Preparing for sacraments ‘eating into class time’

Primary school teachers have said preparing children for the sacraments is eating into class time with some stating it is taking nine hours a week of school time.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) today launches the results of a survey showing that many teachers believe the amount of hours allocated to religion is insufficient for the preparing of students for First Communion and Confirmation.

In terms of non-religion time used to prepare pupils, teachers said it ran from an additional 30 minutes a week up to nine additional hours a week.