HC Deb 27 May 1960 vol 624 cc88-90W
Mr. Owen

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what provision is made in the Commonwealth Educational Co-operation plan for scholarships available to commonwealth students at the Co-operative College, for teachers of co-operation to be used within the Commonwealth, in view of the value of this field of study and practice to the economic life of the community, to the stability of the democratic way of life, and the fulfilment of complete citizenship; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Alport

Under the scheme for the training in the United Kingdom of teachers from the Commonwealth described in the White Paper entitled "Commonwealth Educational Cooperation," to which I assume the hon. Member is referring, the names of the candidates for bursaries, and the courses for which they are proposed, are submitted to the United Kingdom authorities by the sending country. No applications have been received so far for bursaries for the academic year beginning next October from persons wishing to study the teaching of cooperative practice.

Mr. Owen

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how many teachers have been recruited for overseas appointments in the Commonwealth at the nearest convenient date how many scholarships have been offered to overseas students for the United Kingdom; what are the principal subjects of the overseas teachers; what is the main field of the scholarship for Commonwealth students in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Alport

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the new schemes set out in the White Paper entitled "Commonwealth Educational Co-operation" (Cmnd. 1032).

No teachers have yet been recruited under the scheme described in paragraphs 9–15 of the White Paper, but the United Kingdom authorities are now assessing the needs of the oversea Commonwealth countries in the light of the information so far received from them, and it is hoped that the first teachers will go overseas during the latter part of this year. A wide range of subjects will be covered by these teachers and it would be misleading to single out any particular subject for special emphasis.

The final stage in the process of selecting Commonwealth teachers for the award of bursaries under the scheme described in paragraphs 5–7 of the White Paper has now been reached and the United Kingdom authorities are consulting with the teacher training institutions regarding the placing of candidates for the coming academic year. Some 350 applications have so far been received.

The largest group of bursars will be experienced teachers who will be taking a wide range of one year courses in, educational theory and practice. There will be another large group taking courses in technical teacher training and other specialised subjects. A third group will be receiving courses of initial teacher training.

I would hope to make a statement on the progress of these schemes at a later date.