Mayo primary and special schools deserve better - INTO

Too many pupils in Mayo still learn in a classroom of 30 or more pupils - with one in five pupils nationally learning in such crowded environments.

A pre-budget submission by the INTO to the Department of Finance said at the height of the pandemic, Ireland was the only EU country that had to plan for social distancing in supersized classes of 30 or more.

It stated: "Research shows that smaller classes enable teachers to give adequate and necessary time to each child in the classroom, which has a positive impact on learning outcomes.

"Smaller classes support inclusion and diversity, whilst teachers cater to the range of individual learning styles in the room.

"The INTO calls on the government in Budget 2022 to reduce class size and make a commitment to better learning outcomes for Irish primary school children."

The submission said every child in a Mayo primary and special school classroom should be taught by a qualified teacher every day.

"Nationwide substitute supply panels are essential to achieving this.

"A supply panel involves a base primary school hiring a full-time substitute teacher, who covers absences in their school and neighbouring schools, thereby guaranteeing every absence is covered.

"During the pandemic, the government introduced supply panels covering about two thirds of all primary schools in the country. Feedback from schools and parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

"Budget 2022 must guarantee the panels remain in future years and roll them out to all schools.

"Primary schools in Mayo still have to fundraise to cover basic expenses like lighting, heating and insurance.

"It is simply not good enough that the parents of Ireland have to contribute nearly €50 million every year to keep primary schools afloat. As the government has said repeatedly during the crisis, primary education is a national priority. It should therefore be fully, not partially, funded.

"Mayo primary schools receive significantly less funding than second and third level institutions. Primary schools receive a capitation grant of €1 per pupil per school day to cover their running costs.

"The standard capitation grant per primary school pupil has dropped from €200 in 2010 to €183 at present, in contrast to the current figure of €316 at post- primary level.

"This funding disparity is grossly unfair. The INTO requests that the government invests in our primary and special schools by restoring funding to pre-recession levels in Budget 2022.

INTO President Joe McKeown said: "As we move out of the pandemic, we need to invest in our primary schools as they play their role in the great national effort supporting their pupils, some of whom have sadly fallen behind.

"While it will be easy for Government to roll out short term sound bites, sustained support for the sector is the only proven method for ensuring pupils and schools are supported in the years to come.

"We have set out practical, pragmatic and costed proposals that will ensure class sizes in our primary schools align with our EU neighbours, bring an end to the requirement for school fundraising to cover basic needs and support our school leaders who stepped up admirably during the crisis.”