A new report has revealed how teachers are allocated to schools. The report, by Dr Séamus McGuinness of Trinity College Dublin, says while there have been great improvements in schools, the education system is still trying to recover from the economic austerities of the 1980s.
Dr McGuinness says while resources are being restored to pre- 1980s levels, the process must be quickened because schools are under greater pressure. They are expected now to have a more pastoral and socialising role for pupils.
His report, being studied by officials in the Department of Education, says while in 1970 one teacher was allocated for every 15 pupils, in recent years only one teacher has been for every 18 pupils.
He says the 1970 level should be immediately restored if the State wants to achieve important education objectives. However he recognises that this is not the full picture. The State has concentrated its resources in a targeted way, pumping money into remedial education, guidance and home-school liaison programmes.
It has also tried to devote more money to extra management posts.
Dr McGuinness says it would be churlish not to recognise these improvements, but most pertain to activities outside the classroom. Direct spending on pupil-teacher ratios has not been as impressive.
Anticipating potential criticism, the Minister, Dr Woods, has said he would be creating 400 new posts at second level, although some of these were already agreed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. He said the Government had focused on the pupil-teacher ratio constantly in the last four years. It had also appointed 600 more remedial teachers.