HC Deb 17 February 1949 vol 461 cc196-8W
99. Mr. Peart

asked the Minister of Education if he will give details of schemes for the exchange of teachers and students between this country and abroad for the year 1949.

Mr. Tomlinson

Following is the information:

1. Exchanges of full-time Teachers*

U.S.A.

Under arrangements made by the Interchange Committee of the English-Speaking Union, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education, it is proposed that 125 teachers shall be exchanged with the U.S.A. next school year beginning in September. The present number of these exchanges is 112.

Commonwealth Countries

Under the scheme of exchange for which the League of the Empire is responsible, 118 teachers are at present serving on exchange in Commonwealth countries, namely, 32 in Australia, 42 in Canada, 10 in new Zealand, 28 in South Africa and 6 in Southern Rhodesia.

France

In co-operation with the French Ministry of Education 10 senior modern language teachers are to be exchanged in 1949.

Austria

A similar number of exchanges of German-speaking teachers with Austria is proposed in the autumn term.

Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands

A limited number of teachers of general subjects are to be exchanged with each of these countries during the next school year.

2. Exchanges of Assistants (Part-time Teachers of Modern Languages)

France

During the present year 510 French assistants have been appointed to schools in England and Wales, and 186

* These figures include Scotland and Northern Ireland.

assistants from this country are serving in schools in France.

Switzerland, Austria and Germany

Twenty-five Swiss, 8 Austrian and 8 German assistants are at present serving in England and Wales. Four assistants from this country have been appointed in Switzerland. Arrangements for a limited number of appointments in Austria have been made, to begin in 1949.

3. Exchanges of Students and School Pupils

No precise information is available about these exchanges, which are organised by universities, local education authorities, schools and numerous other bodies. The volume of exchanges amongst students and school pupils is, however, expanding rapidly, and it is expected that the recent establishment of the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, with the aid of a grant from my Department, will stimulate the flow.