Sports hall used as a classroom

FOR some children, a whole year in the sports hall might be a dream come true but pupils at a Clare school are more likely to be breaking sweat over spellings than exercise on the gym floor.

The growing numbers at Clonlara National School near the outskirts of Limerick city have warranted an extra teacher being appointed for the new school year.

But the gain of a teacher has meant losing use of the Physical Education (PE) hall for the 310 pupils as the school was told to use every inch of space. A class of 30 senior infants and first class pupils has been moved into the hall.

Labour Party education spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said the policy of asking schools to use PE halls for classrooms was backwards at a time when Health Minister Micheál Martin is making a priority of tackling obesity and lack of exercise.

A Department of Education spokesperson said 142 extra teaching posts have been allocated for this school year and it was not possible to approve all applications for temporary accommodation.

In the interim schools had been advised to make full use of existing facilities until the department was in a position to make extra accommodation available, the spokesperson said.