21 June, 2006 - Extra teachers to reduce class size this September - Minister Hanafin

Extra teachers to reduce class size this September - Minister Hanafin

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D., said she was delighted to be able to  immediately respond to the INTO's call for smaller classes as 500 additional teachers will be in schools this September and there is a commitment to further reduce class sizes in September 2007.

Next September there will be almost 4,000 more primary teachers in schools than there were in 2002.  The majority of these additional teachers have been targeted at providing extra support for priority areas, including children with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and international pupils.  The average class size in primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers, etc.

Speaking in Co. Donegal today where Minister Hanafin opened a new extension to Scoil Cholmcille in Carrigart, Letterkenny, the Minister said "now that these priorities have been largely addressed, extra teachers will be provided over the next two years, specifically to reduce class sizes in primary schools. What this will mean is 500 extra teachers in primary schools this September and the Government has committed to further reduce class size in September 2007.  I have specifically asked schools to target these additional posts at junior classes."

"With the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education.  This Government has clearly demonstrated its commitment to improving staffing in our primary schools by hiring thousands of extra teachers and we will continue to make progress on this issue" said Minister Hanafin.

"I make no apology for addressing priority areas over the last number of years but parents should be aware that the extra teachers going into schools this September will be targeted at reducing class size."

Ends