asked the Minister for Education if she intends to maintain the present pupil-teacher ratio in national schools, and if she will make a statement on the matter.
38.
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teachers Ratio.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the growing public opposition to the terms of her Department's Circular 20/87 she will agree to withdraw the circular; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 38 together.
Circular 20/87, which revises the staffing arrangements in national schools, is not being withdrawn as the changes to the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools and their consequent affect on teacher numbers form an essential part of the Government's strategy to contain public spending. However, where the implementation of the circular would create unacceptably large classes, the particular circumstances of the school will be examined by a Primary Quota Review Committee on a class by class basis, taking into account the needs of the school and the existing staffing and accommodation, with the general aim of ensuring that the maximum class size does not exceed 40 except in exceptional circumstances. It would be open to the committee to recommend a re-organisation of classes or a reallocation of teaching duties, that classes should be allowed exceed the above limit in particular cases or that, in exceptional circumstances, a teaching post should be retained which would otherwise have been discontinued under the terms of the circular.
In order to give the review committee an adequate opportunity to carry out a thorough examination no changes under Circular 20/87 will take place before the end of June 1988. This means that teachers whose posts are being discontinued under the terms of the circular will remain in their present schools until the end of June 1988 and those eligible for redeployment through the panel system will not move to other schools until September 1988.