200 teachers at risk as classes to get bigger
UP TO 200 teaching posts in the capital are at risk of being shed if the Government decides to increase the teacher-student ratio in next week's Budget.
The Herald can reveal that the proposal to raise the ratio by a point has been "strongly examined" by Department of Education officials and is widely expected to form part of the upcoming Budget.
Informed sources have told the Herald that the move is "firmly in the picture" -- meaning the overcrowding problem in our schools is set to get even worse.
"It's been examined, of course it has. There are major budgetary problems in schools and a move like this would alleviate some of the financial strains," an education source explained.
But the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) warned today that increasing the pupil-teacher ratio will result in the loss of 200 jobs in secondary schools in Dublin.
The ratio currently stands at 19 students per classroom -- one of the highest in Europe.
The measure, if implemented, will prove to be a major climbdown for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn who just three years ago slammed Fianna Fail over the issue.
"Not only has Fianna Fail totally reneged on commitments it gave prior to both the 2002 and 2007 General Elections to reduce class sizes, but this must surely be the first time in living memory that any government has taken a policy to deliberately increase class sizes," he said at the time.
TUI president Bernie Ruane told the Herald: "Put simply, it would mean a drastic cut in the number of teachers in schools. In Dublin alone, it could result in a loss the equivalent of around 200 full-time teachers at second level.
"In a small school, this would result in the loss of one teacher or 33 class periods per week. A larger school could lose two teachers and 66 class periods per week. School principals would be left with some drastic decisions as to how best to utilise the reduced teaching provision available."
She added: "The inevitability is that subject choice would be reduced in many schools."
A Department of Education spokesperson told the Herald: "We cannot comment on any upcoming budgetary measure."
hnews@herald.ie
- Niall O'Connor
