Press Releases

Problem of Overcrowded Classes Getting Worse

Wednesday, 1 September 2010

Statement by Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, INTO, on class size in primary schools.

One in five pupils in primary schools in classes of more than thirty. Problem of overcrowded classes getting worse particularly in urban areas.
 
New figures published by the Department of Education and Skills today show 106,000 primary pupils are in classes of thirty or more. The INTO said the figures show the problem of over-crowded classes in primary schools, already the second highest in the EU, is getting worse.
 
According to the Department’s annual survey of primary schools the number of pupils in classes of over thirty jumped from 93,000 to 106,000.  
 
The primary teachers’ union the INTO called on government to tackle the issue as a matter of priority. General secretary of the INTO Sheila Nunan said the increase in overcrowded classes showed clearly that young children are paying the price of economic mismanagement.
 
“Billions are being found to keep Anglo Irish Bank on a life support machine,” Ms Nunan said, “part of which is clearly coming from primary schools.”
 
A decade ago government promised to reduce class sizes for the under nines to less than twenty in line with international best practice. According to today’s figures only 14 percent of primary pupils are in classes of less than twenty pupils.
 
Ms Nunan said there is widespread agreement that younger children do not do as well in over-crowded classes. “When class numbers are reasonable modern teaching methods are possible and there is more teacher time for children.”  
 
The Department’s data shows that 21% of Irish primary school pupils (106,000 pupils) are in classes of thirty or more. The figures relate to pupils enrolled in mainstream classes only and do not take into account many special needs pupils in special classes who are integrated into mainstream classes for certain classes.
 
ENDS