INTO planning major campaign for smaller class sizes
The Irish National Teachers Organisation is reportedly planning a major pre-election campaign to pressure the Government into reducing primary school class sizes.
Reports this morning said details of the campaign were announced by INTO president Sheila Nunan last night as the union's delegates gathered for their annual conference in Killarney this week.
At present, the average primary school class size in Ireland is 24, but one-quarter of children are being taught in classes of 30 pupils or more.
The Government promised to reduce this to 20 when it took power in 2002, but it has still not honoured the commitment.
From next month, the parents of Ireland's 450,000 primary school pupils will reportedly be asked to sign a petition calling on the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition to live up to its word.
This morning's reports said politicians would also be invited to visit their local schools and view the situation first-hand and to attend meetings in every constituency to face the public on the issue.
