One-in-six Junior Cert students in classes of 30

MORE than 100,000 Junior Certificate students are being taught exam subjects in classes with at least 25 other young people, a major survey has revealed.

The finding, which relates to three out of five younger students, has emerged from research for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) on class sizes in second level schools. Its 17,000 members are to raise the problems caused for students and teachers by this issue with politicians.

Of the 15,000 third year students of the 167 schools which took part, 61% are in English classes of 25 or more, and 64% are in history classes of a similar size. This indicates that more than 100,000 students in first, second and third year are in classes of 25 or more.