§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (I) how many teachers have taken a specialist qualification in the education of maladjusted children in each of the last five years and the number enrolled for courses in the current year;
(2) how many teachers have taken a specialist qualification in the teaching of educationally sub-normal children in each of the last three years; and what is the
1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1. ESN children … 72 57 73 98 85 2. Maladjusted children … 75 105 76 83 75 3. ESN and maladjusted children … 142 122 146 134 123 4. Other relevant specialist courses … 155 168 164 173 181 5. TOTAL … 444 452 459 488 464 Information concerning the numbers enrolled on courses in the current academic year is not ye, available.
Since 1969 there have been three year courses of initial training for teachers of mentally handicapped children. 38 students successfully completed such courses in 1972, and future output is expected to be 120 in 1973, 230 in 1974 and 300 in 1975.
§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent proposals have been made to her by the Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children for increasing the pro-
172Wwho did not complete the courses for the same period.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThe available information about undergraduate students by academic years, is as follows: —
number enrolled for courses in the current year.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasTeachers of maladjusted or of educationally sub-normal children are not required to have a specialist teaching qualification in addition to their general initial teacher training qualification. They may, however, be seconded to one-year courses, almost all of which lead to a specialist diploma or certificate. The numbers of teachers attending such courses in each of the past five academic years were as follows:
vision for special education; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasNone. Evidence of the need for increased provision for 173W special education derives mainly from local education authorities. I am awaiting their annual bids for forthcoming building programmes.