Focus should remain on manageable sizes

THE debate about the impacts of class size on educational outcomes centres on the question of quality versus quantity.

There is no doubt that the fewer pupils a teacher has in his or her charge, the better each child’s chance of getting the teacher’s attention or having specific difficulties identified early.

Various international studies say the greatest impact is in junior classes, where a pupil’s basic literacy and numeracy skills are developed, invariably influencing their educational progress.