Pupil teacher ratio move for PLCs bad move

The immediate impact of increasing the pupil teacher ratio (PTR) from 17:1 to 19:1 in Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes will be that approximately 200 non-permanent teachers will lose their jobs over the next year.

Many of these teachers will have worked in a labour intensive, over-worked occupation for periods ranging up to 12 years.

It is unlikely in the present economic climate that their position will receive much attention; as a permanent PLC teacher I consider that the treatment of these teachers reflects badly on the way the entire education system is governed.