§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the training required by primary school teachers for the implementation of the technology component of the national curriculum.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsWe have given high priority to the implementation of the national curriculum under the LEA training grant scheme and have allocated £350,000 specifically for the training of teachers in new technologies for 1990–91.
The Department and the Curriculum Council for Wales will be considering further what is required to implement technology in the national curriculum in the light of the recently completed consultations on the Secretary of State's proposals.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what urgent action he will take to increase the availability of specialist teachers in high schools to meet the requirements of the new curriculum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsWe are taking the requirements of the national curriculum into account when setting intakes to initial teacher training; in the revision of the criteria for initial teacher training courses; and in deciding on the role and make-up of the LEA in-service training grant scheme and education support grants. The recruitment of teachers for shortage subjects is being helped by the provision of bursaries for students pursuing courses in those subjects. The pilot scheme of incentive supplements for Welsh-speaking graduates is aimed at increasing the pool of teachers capable of teaching through the medium of Welsh.