Overcrowded classrooms will remain at the top of the agenda until "our classes are brought down to international best practice levels", INTO general secretary John Carr told delegates.
While welcoming Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's commitment to reduce class sizes in primary schools, he said: "We, along with the parents, will wait to see when class sizes will actually reduce.
"We will be waiting for an immediate announcement of increased places in colleges of education. That will underpin the announcement. Until then it stays on the top of our agenda."
Smaller classes, he said, were essential if the Government was to meet its commitment in the Towards 2016 pay deal.
"On reducing literacy and numeracy problems, encouraging children to be active agents in their own learning, and engaging in collaborative active learning and driving the life-long learning agenda. Smaller classes are central to all of those aims," he added
Responding to Minister for Education Mary Hanafin's address, Mr Carr said her commitment to reducing class sizes was "an important development . . . the beginning of the end of overcrowded classes in our primary schools. It is very significant, as every teacher here will recognise.
"It will set the stage for the real implementation of the curriculum, the integration of children with special needs and meeting the learning needs of all our pupils."
Mr Carr acknowledged the appointment of "significant extra teachers" to meet the needs of children with disabilities. "You did that because it was right. I acknowledged that you have appointed significant numbers of extra teachers to teach English to our newcomer children. You did that because it was right. I acknowledged that additional teachers have been appointed to tackle disadvantage. You did that because it was right. And we campaigned to rid this country of overcrowded classes and give all children their fair share of educational resources. We did that because it was right."
He asked: "Did anyone seriously expect us to stand idly by and let overcrowded classes be the dominant feature of our primary school system? Ireland still has a long way to go before social infrastructure matches economic infrastructure. What use is high GNP if we then allow children to be taught in overcrowded classrooms?
"What use is economic growth to children who have to wait for years for a speech and language therapist? What use is a massive exchequer surplus to a child who comes to school hungry? So expect us to go on campaigning, for while we have made progress and of that there is no doubt, there is still a lot to do to build a society to match our economy."
Addressing Ms Hanafin, he said: "When you came into office there was a crisis in special education. The greatly increased level of support for special needs children in terms of resource teachers and special needs assistants has set right a shameful neglect of these children."
On pay, Mr Carr said: "To continue to produce a top quality workforce we must continue to recruit and retain high calibre teachers. Teaching must be an attractive and rewarding career with a worthwhile career structure.
"I acknowledge that many aspects of teaching are viewed favourably, but teachers' pay and the long pay scale do not attract candidates into teaching."
