Primary education - Time to take action on class sizes

IF teachers anticipated any dramatic initiative from Education Minister Mary Hanafin, in response to their long running and, it has to be said, fully justified demands for a significant reduction in class sizes, they were sorely disappointed at yesterday’s INTO conference, in Killarney.

Indeed, the minister could be accused of making something of a political football of this important issue as she made it abundantly clear that primary schools will get no more extra teachers to reduce class size before next year's general election.

Doubtless, she will reject any suggestion of children becoming pawns in the battle for the hearts and minds of the electorate. However, sceptical parents and teachers alike could be forgiven for taking the minister's remarks in that context.