Hanafin: no extra teacher posts to cut class sizes

THE Government will not be approving extra primary teaching posts to reduce class sizes next autumn, despite growing public pressure, Education Minister Mary Hanafin said yesterday.

Around 8,500 people have attended a series of public meetings held by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) on the issue in recent weeks.

Independent TDs and Sinn Féin have also made commitments to tackle the issue if they help form the next Government, and the Green Party has promised 1,200 teachers to reduce primary class sizes.