The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) yesterday called for a minimum of 2,000 additional teachers to be introduced at second level to ease pressure on teachers.
The call follows a recent commitment by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to hire 4,000 extra primary-level teachers if Fianna Fáil is returned to government.
The TUI said the McGuinness report on staffing in second-level schools, which was published five years ago and recommended 1,200 extra teachers, has yet to be implemented. "This report has been gathering dust in the Department of Education and Science since its publication in 2002," TUI president Tim O'Meara said yesterday.
He said recent developments in schools had increased the requirement to a minimum of 2,000 teachers. He said extra duties had been created by the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, by an increase in the number of international students and by ongoing problems of student disruption.
"Since the McGuinness report was published, a whole generation of students has progressed through the second-level system, many in overcrowded classes," Mr O'Meara said.
The TUI passed a number of motions recommending a reduction in class sizes in second-level schools and post-Leaving Cert courses. One motion called for a maximum class size of 20 students in general subjects.
The TUI also backed plans to co-operate with other unions to devise a strategy whereby class sizes would be reduced to 15 students in the long term.