Class size crisis could spark legal pay-outs

SECONDARY schools could face significant legal costs if insurance firms decide to strip them of cover because chronic overcrowding levels are breaching Government safety guidelines.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has heard schools with more than 30 pupils per class are facing the potential situation because of the lack of teachers being employed.

Speaking on the second day of the union’s annual conference in Cork, Drogheda branch secretary Kevin Brogan warned that insurance firms could decide to pull out of covering schools over the issue.

Mr Brogan said official Department of Education guidelines note that a ceiling level of 30 pupils per class should be in place for normal lessons in new schools, with a 24 pupil ceiling for practical subjects like metalwork and woodwork.

However, the union member said schools are repeatedly being left with no option than to exceed these targets because facilities are understaffed.

And while he said the situation is clearly impacting on pupils’ education, the claim that the non-appointment of new teachers saves money is obsolete as schools — and as a result the taxpayer — could be left facing significant legal costs themselves if overcrowding leads to serious pupil injuries.

“If a child is injured you would expect the insurance company to pay, but they could easily decide the number of children in the class breaches the guidelines.

“They could pull their coverage, exactly like they did for households with the Cork floods. What happens then? We’ll all pay,” he said.

The comment was made during a unanimously supported motion calling for the immediate restoration of the teacher-pupil ratio from 19:1 to 18:1 for public second level facilities. The ratio is 20:1 for fee-paying schools.

During the debate it was alleged that some pupils with special needs are asked not to take part in practical lessons because their safety cannot be ensured.

Outreach teachers working with the Travelling community also said 10% of Traveller children miss between 101 and 150 days of school per year because those working with them are seeing their jobs removed.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has confirmed that the teacher-pupil ratio could be raised further by September 2012 unless schools find alternative ways to make cuts to their budgets.