LIMERICK members of the INTO (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) have welcomed the government’s attempts to combat Ireland’s high pupil teacher ratios in Budget 2016.
Some 2,200 new teachers will be hired nationwide in an effort to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level from 28:1 to 27:1 and at secondary level from 19:1 to 18.7:1.
However, the union warns that more investment is needed in primary schools to cope with the projected increase in the number of children enrolling over the next three years.
Joe Lyons, principal of Ballybrown National School in Clarina and Limerick INTO representative told the Limerick Post: “We are still out of line with the rest of Europe but it’s a start. Children in Limerick are twice as likely to be in a class of more than 30 children than children in Tipperary.
“About 32 per cent of children in Limerick and 16 per cent of children in Tipperary are in classes of more than 30 children.
“We are still only playing catch up. There are going to be an extra 10,000 children in primary school every year between now and 2019, We need to put massive investment into school buildings as well.”
President of LIT Dr Maria Hinfelaar said the Budget featured a number of positive developments for the third level sector.
“The budget allocation of €10 million for new apprenticeships is a very positive development. LIT is the lead partner in the development of two new national apprenticeships in engineering, which are going to provide new career paths for people in the coming time.
“I believe that the €3 million increase in the Student Assistance Fund will greatly benefit students in LIT who have to rely on some form of outside financial assistance. This very welcome increase will help to keep students in college.
“LIT students are also set to benefit through the additional €2.5 million earmarked for Music Generation, which supports the LIT Music Festival, an important part of our Music Technology strand,” concluded Dr Hinfelaar.
Minister for Education and Skills and Limerick TD Jan O’Sullivan said it was “a positive Budget for the education sector” and noted that “additional investment will be required to achieve an education system fit for the 21st century” over the coming years.
The education budget will see €144m in additional investment next year allowing for “a number of positive initiatives that will benefit students, teachers and young jobseekers” according to the Minister.
“This funding will drive reform, provide a better learning environment for students and teachers and provide additional supports at higher level. There is challenging agenda of reform and renewal in education and delivering this will be vital to the future of our country over the next decade,” added Minister O’Sullivan.
