Bernard J. Durkan
Question:62 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to further improve pupil-teacher ratios at primary and second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20190/99]
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
With regard to second level, this year provision was made for 225 additional teachers and this, together with the retention of some 130 teachers who would otherwise have been redeployed is enabling us to provide a remedial teaching service in every second level school and also to bring all disadvantaged schools into the home-school liaison scheme. I have also made improvements in the provisions available for guidance in our schools with a guaranteed minimum allocation now available to every school.
In addition to providing for additional teachers, I have, this year, introduced a new retention ratio for secondary schools. The impact of this is to retain in schools teachers who would otherwise be liable to be redeployed. In all, some 150 teachers have been retained under this initiative and those teachers will continue to be available to improve the quality of education in our schools.
The pupil teacher ratio at second level in the 1998-9 school year was of the order of 15:4:1. Allowing for the increase of some 225 teachers and a projected drop in enrolments, it is expected that the pupil teacher ratio will reduce to approximately 15:1:1 in the current school year.
The Deputy may be aware that I have introduced a range of new initiatives to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools since taking up office. They include improvements in the staffing schedule for the appointment and retention of teachers and, particularly, reductions in the retention and appointment figures for one teacher schools. Other initiatives include the allocation of additional posts towards specifically helping the educationally disadvantaged and the introduction of a maximum general class size guideline of 30.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the initiatives have helped to improve substantially the pupil teacher ratio at primary level. The application of the initiatives in the 2000-2001 school year will help to further improve the ratio.
The current ratio based on the projected enrolments in primary schools in September 1999 is 20.4:1.
The question of further improvements in the pupil teacher ratio will be considered in the context of available resources.