Oral Answers to Questions — Education – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 6 Tachwedd 1947.
asked the Minister of Education how many State scholarships tenable at technological institutions or technical colleges were offered this year; how many candidates there were for these scholarships; and how many reached the standard for receiving an award.
One hundred technical State scholarships were offered this year. One hundred and seventy-three candidates entered for the scholarships and 59 were awarded.
Can my right hon. Friend state from which educational sources the candidates were drawn?
Not at this stage, but I will have inquiries made.
asked the Minister of Education how many State scholarships tenable at universities were offered this year; how many candidates there were for these scholarships; and how many scholarships were awarded.
Seven hundred and fifty State scholarships were offered this year to candidates from secondary schools on the results of the higher certificate examinations. Over 11,000 pupils entered for the scholarships and the full number of 750 were awarded.
asked the Minister of Education how many State scholars protested against being allocated to the university to which they were directed; how many refused to take up their scholar ships as a result of this; how many asked for their scholarships to be postponed for a year; and how many on the reserve list were ultimately awarded and took up a State scholarship.
I am unable to state precisely how many students have protested. Seventy-seven successful candidates declined scholarships for various reasons and 352 have postponed taking up their awards. Seventy-three candidates on the reserve list were offered scholarships and 53 have so far accepted them.
Is my right hon. Friend aware that this direction, combined with the system of supplementary awards, has greatly lowered the prestige of State scholarships, and means in effect, that a minor exhibition for the university is of more value than a State scholarship?
No, I would not accept that for a moment. I believe that there are circumstances in which, owing to the conditions attached to the State scholarship, on account of the increased number, a local authority's award has been accepted instead of a State scholarship because it enabled a student to go to a particular university.
What is meant by "the reserve list"? Are those on the list the students who qualified for a State scholarship but did not get one because there were not enough to go round?
That is not quite correct. The 73 reserve places were those of the next 73 on the list, and their turn comes if others, for any particular reason, decline the scholarship they have won.
In view of the great scarcity of places in universities should not any scholar who is offered a place in any university be only too grateful to accept?
Yes, but there are circumstances in which they find it advantageous at least to hold it over for a period.