§ 44. Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the numbers studying Russian and other Slavonic languages in schools and universities in each of the last three years.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that information on the numbers studying different subjects at school is not available. However, information is available from the examination boards in England and Wales on the total numbers passing examinations in each subject. The numbers passing Russian and other slavonic languages in the summer examinations in 1976, 1977 and 1978 were as follows:
Russian Other Slavonic languages CSE: 1976 … 338 2 1977 … 291 1 1978 … 380 1 GCE O level: 1976 … 2,094 574 1977 … 1,909 543 1978 … 1,798 544 GCE A level: 1976 … 513 144 1977 … 492 151 1978 … 509 204 The following gives the available information on course enrolments for those studying the languages for a specific 166W qualification in universities in Great Britain and establishments of further education in England and Wales:
UNIVERSITIES Russian Languages and studies Other Slavonic and Eastern European languages and studies Undergraduates: 1975–76 … 520 49 1976–77 … 453 48 1977–78 … 435 53 1978–79 … 452 61 Post-graduates: 1975–76 … 127 27 1976–77 … 106 33 1977–78 … 83 21 1978–79 … 85 25
FURTHER EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND (maintained, assisted and grant aided major establishments) Russian Languages and studies Other Slavonic and Eastern European languages and studies Non Advanced: 1975–76 … 94 Nil 1976– 77 … 81 Nil 1977–78 … 80 Nil 1978–79 … Not available Advance: 1975–76 … 69 Nil 1976–77 … 91 Nil 1977–78 … 66 Nil 1978–79 … Not available