Current pupil-teacher ratios praised in Govt mid-term review
01/08/2004 - 17:50:24The Government says significant progress has been made on reducing pupil-teacher ratios in the country's primary schools.
In its mid-term review of the programme for government, the coalition says there is now a teacher for every 17 primary school pupils.
And Fianna Fáil and the PDs say the increases will continue. Three times as many teachers will graduate this year as in 1999. However, school managers complain that no money is being made available to accommodate their expanding student numbers.
Commenting on the review, Communications Minister Dermot Ahern said the Government does plan to increase spending in this key area.
