The figures published in today's edition about the increasing number of our children being taught in classes of over 30 are disturbing. At a time of unprecedented wealth, the number in these large classes has actually increased by some 5,000 over the past two years. In all, over 100,000 primary school pupils are in classes of 30 or more students. According to Department of Education figures, only 15 per cent of primary pupils are accommodated in classes of less than 20. In a throwback to a less prosperous era, teachers are also endeavouring to teach almost 300 pupils in classes of more than 40 pupils.
These are astonishing figures which makes a mockery of the commitments on class size in the Coalition's Programme for Government. The commitment was unambiguous; the Coalition promised to reduce average class size for all under-nines to 20 or less by next year. The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, has already acknowledged that this commitment is unlikely to be met. The new figures were released in a Dáil reply to Labour's education spokeswoman, Jan O'Sullivan. In an accompanying statement, Ms Hanafin said the average class size is 24, and suggested that class sizes of more than 29 in a school can often be due to a decision taken at local level to use teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.
In her defence, the Minister has also claimed that the commitments on class size would have been met - but for unforeseen expenditure on supports for special needs children and for the children of foreign nationals. Next September there will be no less than 4,000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002, she says.
But the core issue here is the every-day classroom environment in which our primary pupils are learning. Every teacher and every parent knows that a child cannot learn effectively in an overcrowded classroom. Yes, Ms Hanafin has done much to boost supports for special needs students and foreign nationals but progress on these fronts does not obviate the need to address the class size crisis - in the overall context of education funding.
The reality is that the Republic has the second largest class size at primary level in the EU; only England has more crowded classrooms. This state also continues to underinvest in primary education. The most recent figures indicate that spending on primary education trails at just 70 per cent of the EU average, small wonder our classrooms are overcrowded. The INTO, which has done so much to highlight the class size crisis, is seeking the support of parents in a national petition on the issue. It seems certain that this support will be forthcoming. Parents and teachers understand the key importance of small classes. Educationalists regularly point to the improved quality of teaching and learning in smaller classes; it can make a real difference. It is to be hoped Ms Hanafin will address the issue, further foot-dragging is unacceptable.