Education Prospects
In inheriting Mr. Butler's Education Act Miss Ellen Wilkinson inherits also the formidable difficulties of carrying it out, the greatest of which are shortage of teachers and insufficiency of buildings. Mr. Butler had already adopted the latest date permitted under the Act, April ist, 1947, for raising the school-leaving age to fifteen, and Miss Wilkinson intends to adhere to that, though the fact is not disguised that even in September, 1948, when the full effect of raising the age will be felt, the supply of teachers and accommodation will be far below what will be really needed. The 20,000 teachers returning from the Forces will only be enough to replace abnormal wastage ; and 13,000 new teachers will be required to cope with the additional children, without making any allowance for diminishing the size of classes. The crux of the situation is the emergency training scheme, which, with forty colleges to be opened between now and the end of next year, is expected to provide the minimum of 13,000 teachers required. The operation of the scheme will be watched with anxiety, for it is going to be a difficult undertaking to get the colleges properly staffed and equipped, and to turn out teachers adequately prepared for their work. So far as accommodation is concerned, there is no hope of getting many permanent new buildings ready in the next two years, and it will be necessary for some time to make shift with pre- fabricated huts. The new reforms have to be carried out under any- thing but ideal conditions, but it was essential to go ahead as soon as possible in giving education to the older children ; and at least the physical difficulties should present no obstacle to the careful examination of the " content " of education, whose improvement Miss Wilkinson sets up as one of her guiding aims.
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