§ Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the quota system for teachers.
§ Sir E. BoyleDuring last summer I undertook a general review of the quota system to assess how far it had improved the distribution of teachers, to consider certain criticisms directed against it, and to decide on my future policy. I discussed the results of this review with a conference of representatives of local authorities and teachers in October and, in the light of the views they expressed, against the background of a continuing shortage of teachers, I have decided that the quota system will need to continue for several years, as the only practicable and effective way of ensuring a fair distribution of teachers and safeguarding the schools in areas which have particular difficulty in recruiting. I am at present consulting the local authority and teachers' associations about the detailed arrangements for next year, which will be announced in a circular before the end of this month. The main change I have suggested is an extension of the period of exemption from the quota of married women returning to the schools after a break in service.