§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people since the 1993 deadline92W have been refused entry to postgraduate teacher training on the grounds of non-conversion to degree equivalents of non-degree qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [23728]
§ Mr. LangAll-graduate entry to the teaching profession in Scotland has long been an objective of both Government and teachers. In 1987 the Government announced that only those with degree qualifications would be eligible for entry to postgraduate teacher training after academic session 1989–90. Candidates who had begun a non-degree or degree equivalent course before 31 January 1987 were, however, eligible for entry in the seven years up to and including academic session 1993–94 in recognition of the fact that, prior to 1987, degree equivalent qualifications had been treated on the same basis as degrees.
My Department is aware of 18 cases in which the 1993 deadline for holders of non-degree qualifications was missed. Clearly, it must be disappointing for the individuals involved to have missed this deadline despite the very substantial transitional period which had been allowed. It may be possible for holders of non-degree qualifications to upgrade them to a degree by means of the credit accumulation and transfer scheme operated by higher education institutions.