Large class sizes in Ireland could be address by emigrating teachers

The president of INTO primary teacher’s union, Sean McMahon, has said that it’s a disgrace that many qualified teacher graduates have been forced to emigrate from Ireland due to low wages whilst Ireland has the euro zone’s most overcrowded classes. He added that these teachers would return to teach in their home country if the chances of decent employment were higher in Ireland.

Also highlighted was the pay disparity between experienced teachers and recent graduates and that the gross pay has reduced by 20 per cent for new teachers since 2008.

Approximately 10 per cent of Ireland’s 32,000 primary teachers have non-permanent jobs. Every year, around 1,600 new teachers graduate from primary teaching colleges yet the amount of graduates who would find a permanent job is less than 5 per cent.

Figures recently released by the Department of Education reveal that 125,000 children, or one in four, are attending ‘supersize’ classes with 30 or more children. According to data from OECD, the average class size for primary level is 24, which is the EU’s second largest after the UK.

Mr McMahon also shared his concerns regarding regional imbalances in class sizes, with urban school “busting at the seems” and rural schools being under-utilised.

Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail’s education spokesman, has also called on the recruitment of more teachers to drive down the size of classes.
The president of INTO primary teacher’s union, Sean McMahon, has said that it’s a disgrace that many qualified teacher graduates have been forced to emigrate from Ireland due to low wages whilst Ireland has the euro zone’s most overcrowded classes. He added that these teachers would return to teach in their home country if the chances of decent employment were higher in Ireland.

Also highlighted was the pay disparity between experienced teachers and recent graduates and that the gross pay has reduced by 20 per cent for new teachers since 2008.

Approximately 10 per cent of Ireland’s 32,000 primary teachers have non-permanent jobs. Every year, around 1,600 new teachers graduate from primary teaching colleges yet the amount of graduates who would find a permanent job is less than 5 per cent.

Figures recently released by the Department of Education reveal that 125,000 children, or one in four, are attending ‘supersize’ classes with 30 or more children. According to data from OECD, the average class size for primary level is 24, which is the EU’s second largest after the UK.

Mr McMahon also shared his concerns regarding regional imbalances in class sizes, with urban school “busting at the seems” and rural schools being under-utilised.

Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail’s education spokesman, has also called on the recruitment of more teachers to drive down the size of classes.