Gay Mitchell
Question:157 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason middle infant classes are being abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14181/99]
Written Answers. - School Curriculum.
Gay Mitchell
Question:173 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if middle infant classes have been discontinued as a matter of policy by his Department; and his policy in relation to primary school class sizes. [14051/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 173 together.
The Department's policy in the matter of conducting repeat classes and promoting pupils specifies that the primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course which provides for an infant programme of two years followed by six years in standards from first to sixth. The syllabus for each component of the curriculum is designed to give the greatest possible degree of flexibility in selecting programmes best suited to the individual needs of individual pupils and schools.
Accordingly, pupils should, as a rule, progress to a higher standard at the end of each school year. It is accepted that there are exceptional situations from time to time which ordain that an individual pupil would benefit from remaining for a second year in a particular grade. However, the Department holds the view that such situations should be minimal, and that under no circumstances should an entire cohort of pupils be retained for a second year.
I must emphasise that there is no change in my Department's policy in this area. This policy has been set out in various circulars over the years and, in cases where schools are found to be in breach of this policy, steps are initiated to ensure that the practice is discontinued.
In relation to class sizes at primary level, the Deputy may be aware that I have introduced a new staffing schedule for the 1999/2000 school year which has been structured to ensure that all schools will operate to a maximum class average of 30 pupils. I am committed to implementing further reductions in class sizes over the next number of years.