Reducing class sizes, building better facilities, and offering free breakfast and lunch will be a key priority for Sinn Féin if elected to government, the party said.
Speaking at the unveiling of the party's education policy today, Seán Crowe said poor planning had led to under-resourced schools and oversized classes.
He said the party would focus on primary level in particular and promised a reduction of the pupil/teacher ratio to 20:1 for under-nines, extending to the remainder of primary pupils over time.
Mr Crowe said: "Instead of guaranteeing everyone equal access to the highest standard of education . . . current Government policy has entrenched educational inequalities and a two-tier system."
The party would insist on more teachers being trained and recruited and eliminate the use of prefabs as classrooms within the life time of the next Dáil, he said.
He also promised the introduction of a free breakfast and lunch programme.
Other commitments announced included:
- proportionately higher funding for schools in areas of high disadvantage
- increased number of educational welfare officers
- a new emphasis on civic education at primary and secondary level
- supports within mainstream classrooms for children with special needs.