IRISH PRIMARY schools are still among the most overcrowded in Europe, with Department of Education figures showing that over 106,000 pupils are in classes of 30 or more, up from 93,000 last year.
This means that one in five primary schoolchildren are in classes of 30 pupils or over. The figures also show that some 8,000 children are still being educated in classrooms of 35 pupils or more.
Overall, the figures reveal the Republic has the second-highest average class size in the EU.
The problem of overcrowded classrooms is particularly acute in the Dublin commuter counties – Carlow, Kilkenny, Meath, Laois, Wicklow and Kildare .
In some cases the average class sizes could even be higher than that listed by the department as the figures relate to pupils enrolled in mainstream classes only. They do not take into account many special needs pupils who are integrated into mainstream classes during the school day.
In recent years class size has been one of the biggest issues on the education agenda. Two years ago more than 100,000 people attended protest meetings held by by the teachers union, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.
However the issue has been less prominent since last year’s revised programme for government promised no increase in class size during the lifetime of the Government. The new figures will put class size back on the agenda as they show the problem of overcrowded classrooms has deepened as a result of cuts in teacher numbers in the 2008 budget.
A decade ago Fianna Fáil promised to reduce class sizes for the under-nines to less than 20, in line with international best practice. But this promise was abandoned.
Yesterday’s figures show that only 14 per cent of primary pupils are in classes of less than 20 pupils.
Last night the union called on the Government to tackle the issue as a matter of priority. The union’s general secretary, Sheila Nunan, said the increase in overcrowded classes showed clearly that young children were 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.”
Ms Nunan said there was 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.”
Labour’s Ruairí Quinn said the new figures highlighted the damaging impacts cutbacks were having in primary schools.
“This is the real evidence of the Government’s strategy to repeatedly cut public spending. Fianna Fáil have not only wrecked the economy, they are seriously damaging our education system too.
“We know there is a massive increase in the natural birth rate of children and that the capital budget for school buildings is being underspent. The outlook for children starting school this week is very bleak.”
Fergus O’Dowd of Fine Gael said the figures showed the devastating impact that budget cuts were having on children.
“It is now patently clear that our children are paying the price of gross economic mismanagement and disastrous Fianna Fáil/Green policies. With the projected increase in the school-going population, this figure is set to rise under the current Government.”
