Politicians need to learn lesson on class size, say teachers

SENATORS and TDS may be sent back to school - so teachers can show them the problems they face having to teach some of the biggest classes in Europe.

The need to reduce class sizes in primary schools is being pushed as a major issue in the next general election by teachers frustrated at the lack of Government progress.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has begun a campaign to bring all the country’s TDs and senators into local schools to see the difficulties faced by staff. It wants action on the Programme for Government commitment to bring average class sizes for pupils under nine down to just 20 from the average size of 24.

Jerome Conway, principal of Scoil Mhuire in Killorglin, Co Kerry, said it was ridiculous having 30 children in a junior infants class, at a stage when they need most help.

“It’s like building a house, if you put in a good foundation you’ll have a solid house. The earlier you give children the attention they need, the better able they are to do well educationally,” he said.

Mr Conway said the 375-pupil school would need just three extra staff to reduce the average class size from 29 to the national average of 24. Three of the school’s 13 teachers have classes with more than 30 pupils. “The Government promised in its manifesto to reduce average class size for younger kids to 20, but they’d want to start putting in the effort at this stage,” he said.

Aidan Gaughran, secretary of INTO’s Clonmel branch, said the problem was causing frustration among teachers. A recent INTO survey found that 1,815 pupils in south Tipperary were being taught in classes of 30 or more.

“It is especially difficult when the new primary curriculum requires different teaching methods,” Mr Gaughran said.

Local TDs Seamus Healy and Tom Hayes yesterday visited Our Lady of Mercy National School in Cahir to see the size of classes and to discuss with INTO officials how to pressure the Government on the issue in the Dáil.

The union’s class size campaign is being stepped up ahead of its annual congress next week, when the issue of staffing levels and class size is likely to be the main focus of debate among more than 700 delegates.

INTO general secretary John Carr said the escalation of the campaign follows months of talks with the Department of Education at which staffing increases to reduce class sizes have been sought.