Department names 364 primary schools set to lose teachers

THE 364 primary schools whose pupils will be in bigger classes from September because of the loss of classroom teachers has been revealed for the first time since the measure was announced in last October’s budget.

The Department of Education still insists there will be about 200 fewer mainstream teaching jobs in primary schools as a result of the budget decision to sanction one teacher for every 28 children, up from the current allocation of one for each 27 primary pupils.

But the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said the cut will be nearer to 1,000 when other teaching losses are implemented, and dozens more schools will be prevented from making appointments they should have been entitled to because of rising enrolments.