Vol. 555 No. 2
206 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation, at primary level, regarding the pupil-teacher ratio; the guidelines and directives issued by his Department, in this regard; the schools where pupil-teacher ratio exceeds such guidelines issued; his plans to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18102/02]
The pupil-teacher ratio at primary level has improved significantly from 21.7 in the 1997/98 school year to 19.0 in the 2001-02 school year. The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools.
The staffing level of a primary school is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule, which is decided upon for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The only deviation from the agreed staffing schedule is in the case of schools classified as "developing schools".
Once the staffing schedule is determined, a circular issues to all primary schools setting out the regulations governing the appointment and retention of teachers for the following school year. The terms for obtaining a post as a "developing school" are also outlined in the circular. The schedule for the current school year was set out in circular letter 9/02 which issued to the board of management of each school in February 2002. I expect that all schools have the staffing levels to which they are entitled in the current school year.
The Deputy may also be aware that I recently established an independent appeals board to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board will operate independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision will be final. A circular outlining these new procedures has recently been issued to all primary schools.
