INTO slams Dempsey's solution to classroom overcrowding

The Irish National Teachers Organisation has accused the Government of sending out the wrong message to children about the importance of physical exercise.

The organisation made the accusation in response to Education Minister Noel Dempsey’s statement that schools will have to use PE halls as classrooms to deal with overcrowding.

John Carr of the INTO said the overcrowding situation had been caused by the Government's failure to provide funding for extra classrooms.

He said Mr Dempsey's suggestion would also deprive children of physical exercise at a time when obesity was becoming a major problem.