§ Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Education (1) why the total of ordinary national certificates in technology awarded in 1962 was lower than in 1959;
(2) why the number of ordinary national certificates awarded in mechanical engineering in 1962 was lower than in 1959.
§ Sir E. BoyleIt is not possible to isolate the factors causing a reduction in numbers in 1962 in ordinary national certificates in mechanical engineering and other technologies as compared with previous years. One of the major factors is almost certainly the increasing extent to which boys and girls are remaining at school to take the G.C.E. at advanced level in preparation for entry to courses leading to technological and other qualifications; for example, between 1959 and 1962 the number of passes in G.C.E. "A" level in mathematics, physics and chemistry increased from 56,412 to 76,215.
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§ Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Education when the interest in subjects at ordinary national certificate level such as mining, naval architecture and textiles continues to decline, what steps he takes to arrange for the transfer of scarce staff at technical colleges teaching these subjects to colleges where other subjects may be expanding.
§ Sir E. BoyleExcept in textiles the decline in the number of students taking ordinary national certificate courses in the subjects mentioned by the hon. Member has been relatively small. As most of the teaching at this level is in basic subjects, such as mathematics and science, there is usually no difficulty in using any surplus staff to meet expanding needs in other directions.