HC Deb 22 December 1915 vol 77 c490W
Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state what arrangement were made by the Board with the authorities of the training colleges about the attestation of students; if it was with the knowledge and approval of the Board of Education that students were informed that training colleges for male students were likely to be closed for the period of the War and the college training of the students brought to a close; that those students who attested would be given full certificates after the War on a reduced period of training; and that those who did not attest would have to be classed as uncertificated teachers; if the facts are not exactly as stated, will be say what the precise nature of the agreement between the Board and the college authorities was; and what were the terms of the statement made to the students on the question of attestation?

Mr. HERBERT LEWIS

The statement made by the Board to the authorities of training colleges on the question of the attestation of students is contained in Circular 928 of the 16th November last, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Of the three statements which are alleged in the question to have been made by the college authorities, the only-one which is authorised by the terms of the circular is the statement that those students who attested would be given full certificates after the War on a reduced period of training. The Board do not know what other statements, if any, were made by the authorities of various training colleges to their students.