Possible Clues:

• Trifling
• Very small, like unit of time
• Infinitesimal
• Time taken to obtain part of a degree
• Very little, by the sound of it, about in a little time
• Very little more than secondary, perhaps
• See 26 Down
• I'm backing the teachers to get the point in time
• A hand points to it, as virtually imperceptible
• Insignificant record