§ 27. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage more girls to study engineering subjects and thus to equip themselves to take up a career in engineering.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy Department's consultative document "A Framework for the School Curriculum" suggested that science and mathematics, both of which are necessary areas of study for those considering a career in engineering, should be part of the experience of all pupils and continued to the end of the period of compulsory education. It also recognised the importance of making clear to pupils of both sexes the educational and career implications of particular subject choices within the school curriculum. Her Majesty's inspectors' recent paper "Girls and Science" has emphasised the need to ensure that girls are offered the same opportunities in engineering as boys. I hope that local authorities and schools will keep this objective constantly in mind. In addition, much can be done to break down traditional patterns of educational choice by those responsible for recruitment to courses of higher and further education, and by those whose task it is to offer advice and guidance about careers to young people still at school.
The number of girls receiving engineering scholarships under my Department's national engineering scholarships scheme has increased steadily over the three years the scheme has been in operation. The numbers are:
Year Number of Scholarships (Girls) 1978 4 1979 13 1980 25