Minister Foley's statistic leaves teachers confused

Áine Corrigan was one of many teachers confused by Education Minister Norma Foley’s statistic on class sizes at the INTO teacher conference on Monday. Picture: Moya Nolan

Áine Corrigan was one of many teachers confused by Education Minister Norma Foley’s statistic on class sizes at the INTO teacher conference on Monday.

The principal at Star the Sea Primary School in Passage West, Cork, said she and her colleagues were in disbelief at Ms Foley‘s announcement that the Irish system now compares “very favourably to the OECD average of 15:1".

“I didn’t understand it at all,” she said. “I have no idea where those figures came from. I appreciate they have brought it down to a ratio of 23:1. It was a strange moment. Everyone was exchanging glances.” 

In real terms she confides that it can be very challenging to keep class sizes down in a school, when class sizes depend on student enrolment.

“In our school, we have two classes in every year group. This year, we were short four students in one year group, and so we had to look for the smallest numbers in the school, to create one class for that particular year. We were left with 35 students in one class, and that class was then the only class for that year group.” 

Maria Curtin, Dublin West branch delegate, at the Irish National Teachers' Organisation annual congress in Derry. Picture: Moya Nolan

The European average is 20 students to each teacher per classroom. The Department of Education reduced class sizes by one student in 2022 and by another student 2023, but no reduction was secured in Budget 2024.

“We must focus on what best serves the needs of all pupils. Parents of these bigger classes will feel aggrieved, but it is out of our power. We end up asking parents to go to their TDs, to fight for the class size to be brought down. We are all fighting for that 20:1 ratio.” 

Things have become more difficult for schools according to the Cork Principal.

“In 2000, I taught a class of 18 students. I knew each child inside out, exactly where they were at. I was able to give them the time they deserved. I knew if they had done their homework or not. I also had more time to interact with parents and to engage with their hopes and ambitions for their children. I was able to focus on the holistic development of each student.” The allocation model was also different.

Norma Foley, Minister for Education and Science, addressing delegates at the Irish National Teachers' Organisation annual congress in Derry. Picture: Moya Nolan

“An autistic child was guaranteed supports. Now, the access is limited. A child having appropriate supports helps the teacher.”

Áine Corrigan says her school works really hard to compensate for the big class size for that one year group.

“We provide them with special education teachers. They get more focused hours. We have a link teacher that is devoted to the class.” It is essential work to ensure that their quality of education is equal to smaller classes, she added.

“But this obviously takes from our Special Education Teaching (SET) hours at a whole school level."

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "The OECD figure is for all primary school children in the system divided by the teachers in the system (class teachers and special education teachers, English language support teachers, administrative principals, and Home School Community Liaison (HCSL) teachers) - so we have a ratio of 13 to 1, lower than OECD average of 15:1 The PTR of 23:1 23 to 1 refers to staffing schedule - for every 23 children enrolled (on average) the department allocates 1 classroom teacher. This figure does not include other types of teachers."