15th January 2020
Yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that a general election will be held on Saturday, February 8th. President Michael D Higgins formally dissolved parliament, thereby ending the 32nd Dáil.
INTO will be a loud voice for primary education during the election. Next week we will be rolling out our national campaign and asking every member and parent to pick up the gauntlet. INTO have already written to all political parties with our key questions and will publish their responses in an election 2020 special of InTouch magazine.
Our primary schools are where futures start. This election, candidates must protect and champion primary education. Ending pay inequality, funding schools, assisting our school leaders and resourcing inclusion as well as reducing class sizes.
Our class sizes are too high. One in five children are being taught in a class with 30 or more pupils.
The EU average class size is 20.
Why can’t we do the same?
Smaller class sizes have a positive effect on children’s learning. Primary teachers support a broad range of pupil needs from special needs to language challenges and homelessness. Disadvantaged schools deal with unique challenges. They need a fair break.
It’s time to reduce class sizes by one pupil per class per year for the next five years.
Stay tuned for our campaign and play your part in standing up for primary education.
