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.