§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to provide opportunities for science and mathematics teachers to continue their education and bring themselves up to date in their subject; and whether he will provide financial incentives to encourage teachers to improve their qualifications.
§ Mr. RossAn extensive range of inservice courses is provided by colleges of education, universities and technical360W colleges to keep teachers abreast of curricular development and to improve their qualifications. Improved qualifications attract improved salaries under the Scottish Teachers Salaries Memorandum.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he is doing to encourage the study of mathematics and science in sixth forms, with a view to increasing the stock of qualified people, from which teachers of these subjects may be drawn.
§ Mr. RossIt is more important to encourage the study of mathematics and science at an earlier stage, and since the introduction of new syllabuses in these subjects, with which my Department has been closely concerned, there has been an encouraging increase in presentations for the ordinary and higher grade examinations of the S.C.E. Examination Board. The introduction of Certificate of Sixth Year Studies examinations in mathematics, chemistry and physics should encourage their study in the sixth year.
Of the school leavers entering university courses in 1966 about 75 per cent. had passes in mathematics on the higher grade and about 65 per cent. had qualifications in two or more science subjects (including mathematics). I have no reason to believe that the current position is significantly different, and I do not think, therefore, that the shortages of teachers in these subjects are mainly attributable to a lack of qualified school leavers.