The UUP's Basil McCrea also gave predictions from Stranmillis College for the year 2011-12 which suggest that almost 2, 000 students will be applying for only 233 places.

BBC: Newly-graduated teachers

Representatives of Stranmillis University College have been advised to find an alternative to a merger with Queen's University "rather than flog a dead horse".

BBC: MLAs criticise Stranmillis merger plans

Mr Farry informed MLAs there was not sufficient support within the assembly to pass the legislation required to merge Stranmillis University College and Queen's University Belfast.

BBC: Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland currently has two: Stranmillis and St Mary's College.

BBC: Newly-graduated teachers

The SDLP's Pat Ramsey was concerned that the minister might be deploying "social engineering" to achieve his aims regarding both Stranmillis and St Mary's University College, the Belfast-based Catholic teacher training college.

BBC: Employment and learning committee

The minister said Stranmillis had effectively become a non-denominational college when the Protestant "transferors" left the board of governors.

BBC: Northern Ireland Assembly

Mr Farry turned to the wider picture of the teacher training system, and Stranmillis's counterpart in the Catholic sector, St Mary's University College.

BBC: Northern Ireland Assembly