§ Sir M. Galpernasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total shortage of school teachers in 1963; what was the shortage in primary, junior and senior secondary schools; what was the shortage in each subject taught in junior and senior secondary schools; what is the estimated shortage in 1964, 1965 and 1970; what steps he is taking to stimulate recruitment to the profession; and in what year it is estimated that schools will be fully staffed.
§ Mr. NobleThe number of teachers required to fill vacancies, reduce oversize classes, and replace uncertificated teachers and re-employed retired teachers over 70 years of age was estimated by education authorities and other school managers at 7th October, 1963, to be 3,482. Of these 1,363 were required in primary schools and 2,119 in secondary schools.
The shortages of secondary teachers by subject were:
Total English … 251 History and Geography … 113 Economics … 1 Classics … 24 Gaelic … 4 Modern Languages … 103 Mathematics … 320 Science … 248 Art … 188 Applied Science … 7 Agriculture and Horticulture … 16 Commercial Subjects … 112 Homecraft … 361 Music … 313 Physical Education Men … 70 Women … 114 Speech and Drama … 32 Technical Subjects … 88 The total shortage is expected to fall to about 3,000 in 1964 and 1965. The Robbins Committee on Higher Education estimated that by 1970 the shortage would fall to 300 if circumstances did not change. With the raising of the 59W school leaving age the shortage is likely to be about 4,500 in 1970 and, on the Robbins Committee's forecasts, will not be eliminated until about 1976.
Measures taken to encourage recruitment include regular visits of 60W "recruiting teams" of serving teachers to the universities, the special recruitment scheme, the recent nationwide campaign to encourage married women to return to teaching, and substantial increases in the salaries of teachers.