§ 26. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teacher training places for new entrants will be available in England and Wales in September 1983 under present plans; and how this compares with the number in September 1979.
§ Sir Keith JosephOur plans provide for 15,650 admissions to initial teacher training in England and Wales in 1983. This compares with about 18,450 students actually admitted in 1979.
§ 28. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the cutback in the number of teacher training places; what effect this will have on education standards; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Sir Keith JosephThe restructuring of the initial training system is to meet the falling demand for secondary teachers and the rising demand for primary teachers following changes in the school population. The restructuring will also improve standards through the more effective deployment of resources, by affording better job prospects to the newly trained teacher and by securing a closer match between the output of the initial teacher training institutions and the needs of the schools.
§ 30. Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to make a decision on the future provision of teacher training; and if he will make a statement.
§ 35. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the outcome of his consultations on the reduction of places for teacher training.
§ Sir Keith JosephI announced my decisions yesterday in reply to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence).
§ 38. Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis a reduction of nearly 45 per cent. in postgraduate certificate of education secondary intake places was made in the public sector of higher education whereas the comparable figure in the university sector was 18 per cent.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIn deciding the distribution of secondary PGCE admissions between the university and public sectors my right hon. Friend took into account the substantial growth in primary intakes proposed for the public sector, the quality of past recruitment, the respective contributions to training in priority subjects, the qualifications of staff, and the success of trainees in finding employment.
§ 52. Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the future of secondary bachelor of education courses in English, history, geography, arts, languages and social sciences at the institutions for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has decided that secondary teachers of these subjects should in future be trained through courses leading to the postgraduate certificate in education. Consequently no admissions to secondary Bachelor of Education courses in these subjects are planned for 1983, 1984 and 1985.
§ 53. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges and departments of education he expects to be closed as a result of his current decision on teacher training.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe have decided that initial teacher training should be discontinued at 10 institutions in England. It is too early to say whether this will lead to the closure of the colleges or departments of education concerned. This would be a matter for the institutions and their local education authorities or providing body.