HC Deb 23 September 1948 vol 456 c155W
111. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Education whether in view of the fact that in the past it took two years at a normal college to prepare a young person to teach in an elementary school, and that this has now been reduced to one year's intensive course as advertised under the Government's training scheme, he will now consider extending this period in order to produce properly qualified teachers.

Mr. Tomlinson

Courses of training lasting two years and more have not been abolished, but are being taken by more students than ever before. In addition, a special temporary Emergency Training Scheme, with courses lasting slightly over a year, has been provided for mature entrants who have had war service. I am satisfied that they are proving highly successful and I do not propose to modify the scheme at this stage.