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Teachers (Training Courses)

Volume 976: debated on Thursday 20 December 1979

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asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers successfully completed retraining courses in the shortage subjects in the summer of 1979; how many people completed initial training courses in shortage subjects with assistance from the Manpower Services Commission; and how many of the total have found jobs teaching the shortage subjects.

Informal inquiries of colleges providing retraining courses in mathematics, the physical sciences and craft, design and technology indicate that a total of 377 teachers successfully completed such courses in the summer of 1979. Financial support was provided through the Manpower Services Commission for over half of the teachers on these courses; in addition, it provided awards or grants to enable an estimated 357 people to pursue courses of initial training in the shortage subjects.Colleges providing retraining courses have reported that 348 of their students obtained positions teaching shortage subjects. It is estimated, on the basis of a survey of Manpower Services Commission award-holders, that about 270 of those taking initial training courses quickly found jobs teaching their new subject, while 17 others were already employed as teachers and would have had jobs to return to. The training and retraining scheme has thus contributed some 635 additional specialist teachers this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers have, during the autumn, enrolled on courses of retraining in shortage subjects; and how many people are on initial teacher training courses in these subjects with support from the Manpower Services Commission.

Recent inquiries of colleges providing special retraining courses in mathematics, the physical sciences, craft, design and technology and business studies reveal that 344 teachers enrolled on these courses this autumn.By the end of November a total of 204 awards or grants had been made to or in respect of teachers on these courses under the scheme operated by the Manpower Services Commission. The scheme had also provided 239 awards or grants for suitably qualified people taking courses of initial training in the shortage subjects this year.