HC Deb 23 January 1984 vol 52 cc408-9W
Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools teach Esperanto.

Mr. Dunn

This information is not available in the Department.

Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university courses there are in Esperanto (a) to intermediate level and (b) to final degree level.

Mr. Brooke

Courses in Esperanto are not offered in the universities.

Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many examination boards include Esperanto in their syllabuses to (a) GCE O-level, (b) GCE A-level and (c) CSE level.

Mr. Dunn

At present no GCE board offers a syllabus or examinations in Esperanto although the London GCE board is considering a request that it should do so. Two CSE boards offer examinations in the language, based on syllabuses devised by schools—the Southern regional examinations board and the Yorkshire and Humberside regional examinations board. However, neither of these boards received any entries since 1981.

Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is prepared to encourage the teaching of Esperanto; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

We are not persuaded that there is a case at the national level for encouraging schools to teach Esperanto. It is however open to individual schools to offer courses in Esperanto if they wish to do so.