Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
177
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the extent to which pupil-teacher ratios at primary and second level have improved throughout the country in the past five years; the regions which have shown the most and the least improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3064/02]
The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils validly enrolled on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The staffing schedule is issued to the boards of management of all primary schools by circular letter annually.
This Government, since taking office, has created an unprecedented number of new teaching posts at primary level. Some 1,800 new teach ing posts have been created and all posts which were due to be lost to the demographic dividend have been retained by this Government. These measures have enabled the Government to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 19.0:1 in the current school year.
Teaching posts are also allocated to second level schools and vocational education committees in accordance with generally applicable criteria. Allocations are determined on the basis of enrolments in the previous school year in accordance with a pupil-teacher ratio of 18:1 for older established programmes and ade facto ratio of 16:1 in respect of the leaving certificate applied, the leaving certificate vocational programme and post-leaving certificate courses. In addition, a number of ex quota posts such as principal, learning support, guidance, disadvantage and home school community liaison are allocated.
The actual pupil-teacher ratio at second level has been reduced as follows over the past four years:
1996-9716.0
1997-9815.6
1998-9915.4
1999-0015.1
2000-0114.8 (subject to confirmation)
The reduction in the ratio was achieved through the creation of an additional 1,225 posts and the retention of posts which would otherwise have been retrenched due to the fall in enrolments in the sector. I have recently announced the creation of a further 400 new second level teaching posts. This increase in posts, combined with an anticipated fall in enrolments, will result in further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio in the sector.
