Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the need to reduce class sizes, particularly at primary level, in view of Ireland's poor position in EU terms; her views on international evidence collated recently by the INTO which points to the huge benefits of smaller classes; her plans to improve the pupil-teacher ratio over the next five years, notwithstanding investments in special needs assistants and resource teachers; the steps being taken to roll out more graduates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7940/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. While some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

The Deputy should note that significant improvements have been made in this area in recent years. The average class size at primary level is now 23.9, down from 26.6 in the 1996-7 school year. The pupil-teacher ratio, which includes all teachers in the school, including resource teachers, has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-7 school year to 17.44:1 in 2003-04. Some 4,000 additional teachers have been employed in primary schools since 1997. These additional teaching posts have been used to reduce class sizes, tackle educational disadvantage and provide additional resources for children with special needs. Significantly smaller class sizes have been introduced in disadvantaged schools involved in the Giving Children an Even Break and Breaking the Cycle programme, with approximately 47,700 pupils in 243 participating schools availing of reduced class sizes of either 15 or 20 pupils per class.

In line with Government policy, my Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and subject to spending priorities within the education sector. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas and in junior classes. The primary sector has experienced a shortage of trained teachers in recent years, mainly because of the creation of the large number of posts which I have outlined. The difficulties being experienced were aggravated by the number of teachers availing of career breaks and job-sharing schemes.

It is important to acknowledge that the colleges of education have done much to increase the output of primary teachers to meet the needs of schools arising from significant additional teacher allocations in recent years. Since 1999, more than 1,000 students have been admitted annually to the BEd programme in the colleges of education. Since the 1995-6 academic year, an 18 month postgraduate course has been provided in the colleges. The total intake to the colleges of education in the current academic year is approximately 1,280 students. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-7. There are 3,500 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education. In addition, graduates of the new primary teacher training course, which is being accredited by HETAC and delivered by Hibernia College, an on-line third level educational company, will be recognised for the purposes of primary teaching.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is the Minister aware that more than 80% of approximately 210,000 to 220,000 children under the age of nine in classes ranging from junior infants up to second class are in classes of more than 20? International evidence indicates that smaller class sizes can benefit a child's reading and language development skills, mathematics and artistic development. It also indicates that teachers who are able to spend more time teaching can benefit children under the age of nine and prepare them for the work ahead. Studies have shown that people who complete their leaving certificate and go to college earn more money and pay more in tax.

The programme for Government contained a pledge that over the next five years the Government would progressively introduce maximum class size guidelines to ensure the average size of classes for children under nine would be below the international best practice guideline of 20:1. Is the Government admitting that it has broken that promise and that it will remain broken until the next election?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy referred to international evidence on smaller class sizes and the Government accepts that smaller class sizes at junior level can make a difference. There is no evidence, however, to show that smaller class sizes further up the line can make a real difference to educational achievement. The international level was recently cited by the INTO in its magazine in an article that also shows the reduction in class size must be accompanied by a change in teaching styles to achieve all of the benefits. Teacher quality and the work he or she is doing in the classroom is even more significant than the size of the class. The two must go hand in hand.

Our priority must be disadvantaged areas. We want to ensure children in those areas are targeted and that is backed up by changes in teaching methods. In the Breaking the Cycle element of the disadvantage programme, there is a class size of 15:1 but in the evaluation, improvements in literacy and numeracy were not generally attained and, unfortunately, in some areas it was found that there was even some decline in attainment despite the small class size. My priority is to aim to meet the target in the programme for Government but that will be done in the context of the availability of resources and teachers and the priorities for me are special needs and disadvantage.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister acknowledge that many pupils are disadvantaged even when their school is not in a disadvantaged area and, in terms of class sizes, they must also be dealt with? Whatever about the Minister's aspirations to meet the commitments in the programme for Government, so far the promise has remained unfulfilled. In economic terms, Ireland has the third largest class sizes in the EU and our future economic and social development will be in jeopardy unless the issue is addressed as a matter of urgency.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The same tables also show that educational achievement in Ireland is much higher than in those states with smaller class sizes.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is higher in spite of the larger class sizes.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That bears out that class size is not the only contributor to educational achievement. It remains our aim and part of the programme for Government but it will be done in the context of targeting those most in need with teachers and available resources.