HC Deb 23 August 1945 vol 413 cc840-1W
Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Education how many recruits have been admitted to the Emergency Training Scheme for Teachers; how many have been drawn from industry and agriculture; and whether it is her intention to give equal opportunity for recruitment in the near future to those uncertificated teachers who have already rendered good service in the schools during the war years.

Miss Wilkinson

The number of students admitted to or allocated to Emergency Training Courses so far is 546. The number of candidates who have been selected for training but have not yet been allocated to a college is 2,108. Information as to the numbers drawn from industry and agriculture is, I regret, not available. Owing to the extreme shortage of teachers, it is unfortunately not yet possible to spare uncertificated teachers from the schools. As soon as they can be spared arrangements will be made to enable suitable candidates to take a special course of training.

Mr. Sunderland

asked the Minister of Education the progress made in the emergency training of teachers, particularly including the number of emergency training colleges now in use, where located, and the number of trainees now in residence at each college; the number of applicants under the scheme of each sex; the number of applicants accepted as trainees; and the number rejected as unsuitable, respectively.

Miss Wilkinson

The following emergency training colleges are now in use:

Numbers in Training
Exhall Training College, near Coventry 219 (women)
Wall Hall Training College, near Watford 94 (women)
Alnwick Training College, Northumberland 37 increasing to 115 in September (men)
In addition, special emergency one-year courses have been arranged for September at the following existing Training Colleges:
Goldsmiths' College, Nottingham 26 (men)
Chester Training College 50 (men)

Applications received for the Emergency Training Schemes have been dealt with as follows (figures as at 17th August, 1945):

Men Women Total
Applications received 7,171 6,175 13,346
Accepted for Training 1,103 1,551 2,654
Rejected 2,697 1,843 4,540
Under consideration 3,371 2,781 6,152