Vol. 413 No. 9
78 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if he will outline (a) the current pupil/teacher ratio and (b) the average class size in both primary and post primary schools; and if he will outline his plans to reduce these to the EC average.
The pupil-teacher ratio at primary level is currently estimated at 25.8 to 1.
The average class size in the year 1990-91 was 30.3.
The current pupil-teacher ratio at post primary level is approximately 17:1.
Class sizes in post primary schools are set by the school authorities depending on the school's quota/allocation and the varying curricular needs in each school. In these circumstances it is not practical to indicate an average class size.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress the Department implemented improvements at primary and post-primary level from the 1 September 1991.
