Union condemns proposal to cut teacher numbers

The Teachers Union of Ireland has today criticised plans to cut teaching posts at second level by up to 1,000 next year.

A report in today's Sunday Times said that the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin are in discussions to cut the number of teachers at primary and secondary level by between 1,500-2,000.

It is believed the cuts will mean secondary schools will have an average of 20 students per teacher, while the primary school ratio will be pushed to at least 28 students per teacher by September next year.

TUI Deputy General Secretary Annette Dolan said that the move would be completely unwarranted and would force second level schools to make tough decisions.

"Ultimately what this cut will mean is not more pupils in the classroom, but less teachers in the school, which, at second level, means less subject choice," she said.

"So, for instance, principals in schools will now have to make a choice in relation to what subjects they drop, and what higher-level and ordinary-level classes they put together."