HC Deb 01 February 1988 vol 126 c443W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he will make a statement on progress with the programme designed to retrain teachers for mathematics and physics; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

We believe that earmarked moneys available from April 1988, under the Government's local education authority training grants scheme, will allow the funding of a substantial proportion of the one-year retraining places for mathematics, physics and CDT teachers available at higher education institutions. Grant supporting £4 million of expenditure is ring-fenced for the secondment of teachers on to long courses in recognition of the serious difficulties experienced by some institutions last year. In addition, the scheme will support a further £10 million of expenditure by LEAs on in-service training, which can be used for funding one-year retraining courses, in mathematics and physics. The programme of funding in this area will be reviewed for 1989–90.