One in four pupils squashed into overcrowded classrooms

Some 6,848 pupils were taught in overcrowded classrooms across Galway in the academic year that is coming to a close this month.

The figure represents 23% of Galway’s primary school population, and has been described as a scandal by Sinn Féin.

Education Minster Richard Bruton, has confirmed that a further 10,481 primary school students were squeezed into classrooms with between 25 and 29 students.

It means that 17,329 national school children in Galway – representing 58% of all students from junior infants to sixth class in the city and county – are taught in classes of 25 pupils or more.

There is no limit on the class sizes but a Department of Education circular states that appropriate learning experiences are difficult to achieve in classes of 25 or more.

National school teachers’ union, INTO, says there should be a maximum class size in primary schools of 25 pupils in single-age classes.

This should be reduced to 20 pupils for two-age group classes and to 15 for groups of three or more ages.

Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said large class sizes was putting pressure on teachers, and jeopardising pupils’ education and future.

“The national average at the moment is 27 pupils per class, which is far too high. We want to see that brought down to classes of no more than 20 pupils,” said Senator Ó Clochartaigh.

“It is not acceptable that over half of the pupils attending primary school in Galway are in classes of 25 or more and that nearly one in four are in classrooms where there are more than 30 pupils.

“The Government needs to invest more in education and to put the resources in to bring down the pupil teacher ratio. These figures prove that it is a particular problem in Galway.

“Higher numbers in classrooms impacts on the amount of time a teacher has to give to each individual child, and then if there are children with special needs in a class with 25 or more pupils, that obviously takes up more of their time and impacts on educational outcomes.

“There’s also the matter of overcrowding. You have some classrooms in Galway where children are on top of each other, and that’s not a good environment for learning in. There has been an under-investment in education and it is the children who suffer. The Government needs to invest to bring down class sizes because children only get one chance at education and it is not fair to this generation of young learners,” said Senator Ó Clochartaigh.