asked the Minister for Education if he will state the number of teachers in national schools who have (a) less than 30, (b) 30-39, (c) 40-49, (d) 50-59, (e) 60-69, (f) 70-79, (g) 80-89, (h) 90-99, and (i) 100 and over, pupils under their care.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National School Pupils.
I regret that the information on the basis sought by the Deputy is not available and could not be obtained without considerable trouble and delay.
It may, however, be of some assistance to the Deputy if I say that the total average enrolment of pupils in all national schools for the year ended 30th June, 1954, was 472,536 and that the total number of teachers in these schools exclusive of supernumerary teachers on that date was 13,144, i.e., an average of 35.9 pupils per teacher. Including supernumerary teachers the total number was 13,807 and the average number of pupils per teacher was 34.2.
Would it not be possible to give some indication in view of the fact that we know that various schools in the country are overcrowded? A large number of children are on the rolls and are under one teacher. In other cases that is not so, but surely in relation to the various schools it should be possible to have the information available.
To look for a national figure would be an exhaustive job and where the point would lead I cannot say exactly. If the Deputy could relate his inquiry in regard to some examination he is carrying out himself I would be glad to see either what records there are in the Department that might be of assistance or what could be done over a smaller area of inquiry to meet anything the Deputy might require.