§ Mr. Ginsburgasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to deal with the shortage of teachers of mathematics; and to what extent he proposes to adopt the recommendations which have been made to him on this subject by the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsMy right hon. Friend and I are very concerned about this shortage. We have encouraged colleges of education and university departments of education to give high priority to the admission of potential teachers of mathematics and science. The Department has concentrated in its advertising for teachers on mathematics and science graduates and will do so again next year. It has collaborated with universities in arranging meetings to discuss modern developments in mathematics and science teaching, and has been exploring ways of attracting mature graduates in mathematics and science to teaching.
The Schools Council has accepted as common ground with the universities the aims of reducing specialisation, broadening the scope of study in the sixth form and delaying the choice by pupils of subjects for study in higher education. In the long term, this should be a contribution to easing the shortage of teachers of mathematics.
The Institute's "First Report on the Shortage of Teachers of Mathematics" 208W includes an indication of the action which my Department is taking, or preparing to take, on such of the recommendations as are addressed to it.