Parents in South Kilkenny have raised concerns that the responsibility for educating and supervising 34 junior infants in a small rural school will fall on just one teacher come September.
Aontú rep, Gary O’Neill says
“Parents whose little children aged just 4-5 years of age have come to me to voice their worries over this situation at Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Slieverue, South Kilkenny.
This situation arose following the loss of a full-time teaching position, reducing the staff at the school from 9 teachers to 8. The school principal appealed this decision; however it was rejected by the Department of Education.
This situation is understandably a source of much worry for parents who, while acknowledging the wider staffing pressures facing schools, are very concerned . Junior infants in particular require constant supervision and support.
How is one teacher expected to have an adequate duty of care while simultaneously trying to juggle toileting, emotional regulation, play-based learning and early literacy development, while also ensuring all 34 infants feel included and settled?
Instead of splitting the incoming class into two smaller groups of 17, one teacher will now be responsible for managing 34 infants at one of the most important stages of their development.
There are also concerns around health and safety. Planning drawings for the classroom show a layout designed for approximately 30 pupils, yet 34 children are expected to occupy the same room. Parents fear this could create issues around space and in the case of emergency evacuations.
This local issue also highlights a national issue. According to the Department of Education, more than 43,000 Irish primary school pupils were in classes of 30 or more last year, while the average primary school class size remains at 22.5 pupils, which so happens to be the highest in the EU. Despite repeated commitments to reduce class sizes, many schools continue to operate overcrowded classrooms that place enormous pressure on children, teachers, and parents.
Slieverue Primary School urgently needs this staffing appeal overturned, and an additional teacher allocated before TDs in Carlow and Kilkenny break for the summer recess. Parents fear that if action is not taken before the summer break, it may be too late to address the situation before children begin school this September”.
