§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many new trainees are commencing the three-year course for teachers in special education in 1973.
§ Mrs. ThatcherProvisional figures indicate that 410 students started three-year certificate and four-year B.Ed. courses directed towards teaching of educationally subnormal children.
673W
§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are employed in hospital schools for the mentally handicapped; and what percentage of those teachers is qualified to teach the handicapped.
§ Mrs. ThatcherOf 722 full-time teachers employed in hospital schools for these children in England and Wales in January 1973, 373–52 per cent.—were qualified teachers. A further 109—15 per cent.—held either the diploma in the teaching of mentally handicapped children or the declaration of recognition of experience awarded by the Training Council for Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped, but had not yet completed the five years post-diploma service or, for the declaration, the five years service in a special school which are required to achieve qualified teacher status.