Politicians around the country are to be lobbied by representatives of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) as part of a major new campaign to highlight large post-primary class sizes.
ASTI president Michael Freeley said recent figures have shown that approximately 35,000 junior cycle students are in classes of more than 30, with up to 90,000 students in classes of more than 25. Such large classes "militate against" pupil-teacher interaction and individualised learning and were a serious cause of concern for parents and teachers, he added.
"The idea of having 25-plus or 30-plus vibrant adolescents in a classroom is outdated and severely restricts the use of modern teaching and learning methods." A 2002 report on staffing in second-level schools, which recommended the creation of 1,200 additional classroom teachers had been left "gathering dust", he said.
"While the Government claims it has reduced the pupil-teacher ratio at second level in recent years, this has been achieved by creating small numbers of additional posts in areas such as special needs, guidance counselling . . . These additional posts are much needed and have been welcomed by the ASTI. However, they are not mainstream classroom teaching posts and they have had a negligible effect on the crucial issue of class size".
As part of the campaign, ASTI representatives nationwide will meet with local politicians over the coming months in order to urge them to "take a stand" on the issue of class size at second level. The union will also be meeting with parents' groups.