§ 39. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the recruitment of mathematics and science teachers.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am still not ready to make a statement on this subject, but will do so as soon as I can.
§ 42. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education to what extent the incidence of nervous ill-health or withdrawal in respect of teachers in secondary modern schools in some areas has shown an increase in the last three years; to what extent classes have grown beyond the normal maximum; and what special consideration has been given to the teaching problems related to the children of 14 to 15 years.
§ Sir D. EcclesI know of no significant change in the incidence of nervous ill-health among secondary modern school teachers in the last three years. The number of classes in these schools with more than 30 pupils decreased between January, 1951, and January, 1954, by 823. The teaching of children aged 14–15 is60W normally considered as part of the general question of planning secondary courses of various kinds.
50. Mr. Norman Smithasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that, in many cases, the Government deduct superannuation payments from teachers' salaries during the last year of their service, yet refuses to recognise that year if it falls short of a complete year; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am aware that this may happen. This matter can be raised during the consultations with local authorities and teachers to which reference was made in the Gracious Speech.
§ 52. Viscountess Davidsonasked the Minister of Education how the number of admissions to teacher training colleges in September, 1954, compares with previous years.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe total number of students admitted to teacher training colleges of all types and to the university departments of education for the current session is 15,462. The corresponding figures for the two previous sessions were 15,170 and 14,996.