PRIMARY SCHOOL teachers are struggling to implement key sections of the new curriculum because of overcrowded classrooms and a lack of resources, according to a major new report. SEÁN FLYNN, Education Editor reports.
The confidential report, prepared by an advisory group to the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin, says teachers are struggling to give many pupils the individual attention they need in larger classes. It comes as the class size issue is set to dominate the annual conference of the INTO, which begins this evening. Average class sizes in Ireland remain the second-highest in the EU.
The survey from the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is based on reports from over 1,300 primary teachers on how the new primary curriculum is working in science, Irish and the new subject of social, personal and health education (SPHE).
In all three areas, the report identifies class size and lack of resources as key challenges including:
• In science teaching, over 50 per cent of teachers say lack of resources and equipment is the greatest challenge facing them in implementing the new course.
• On the teaching of the Irish language, teachers reported how "a lack of age-appropriate, modern and interesting resources, including teaching resources and real books" was hampering their work.
• In SPHE, teachers said it was difficult to help pupils with sensitive personal issues in large classes.
Last night, John Carr of the INTO said the new report "makes a nonsense of the Minister's claim that the numbers in classes are not related to the quality of education. Teachers don't have the time or the resources to implement the curriculum in large classes".
While the Government envisages Irish schools driving the "knowledge society", the NCCA report details how the new science curriculum at primary level faces huge resource challenges. According to the report, "several teachers noted how small classrooms and large classes made it difficult to engage the children in practical work".
One teacher quoted in the report says: "Sharing a box of magnets between nine teachers is not ideal."
Class size was also a key issue in Irish language teaching.
One teacher noted: "There is a very full curriculum and I find it difficult with a class of 28 to get around to everyone."
Classes of fewer than 20 in primary schools are regarded as the international benchmark.
Following the 2002 election, the programme for government promised class sizes for children under nine would be reduced to fewer than 20, but this was never implemented.
Last year, the Government said it would reduce class sizes in each of the next three years, but this commitment has already been abandoned.