Class sizes prove ‘urgent need for more teachers’

AN increased number of teachers to help reduce class sizes must be sought urgently by the profession’s new self-regulatory body, the Teaching Council, a union leader urged last night.

John Carr, general secretary of the INTO, said the biggest challenge facing the council is to ensure the supply of qualified primary teachers.

“We have some of the largest class sizes in Europe. The Teaching Council must advise the Minister for Education to increase the number of places in colleges of education to bring those sizes down,” he said.