INTO seeks reduction in class sizes at annual congress

More than 750 primary teachers are gathering in Killarney in Co Kerry later today for the annual congress of the Irish National Teachers Organisation.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin will address the conference today and has said she is confident of a good reception because of her solid working relationship with the union.

She said she expects the issue of class size to dominate proceedings as the INTO have raised the matter with her a number of times in the last year.

The INTO also said ahead of the conference that one of its main priorities is a commitment from the Government to reduce class sizes.

They will also demand better resources to help immigrant children integrate in schools.

Vice President Denis Bohane said children coming from other countries not only have to contend going to school for the first time, but they must also adjust to a situation where they may not even understand what is going on because of the language barrier.

The INTO has also declared its support for merging the country's three teaching unions into a single movement, saying it makes administrative and financial sense, but Mr Bohane said he feels it will take "quite some years" for this to materialise.

Tomorrow, the ASTI and the TUI, representing secondary schools and post leaving cert teachers, will begin their annual conference in Ennis and Tralee.