Super-sized primary classes

A chara, – It is difficult hearing people who speak for the Government applaud themselves for proposed increases in the numbers of special needs assistants (SNAs) and teachers hired to work in the primary sector. These people know all too well that the increases are simply keeping up with the demographic fact of larger school enrolment figures.

We currently have the second largest class sizes in Europe, next to our UK neighbours. I invite every politician to spend a day in a classroom of 30 children, or more, and deliver a curriculum that, in the words of Jerome Bruner, complements “the intrinsic motivation and curiosity for learning that all children possess” .

It is time that we properly addressed the perennial issue of our super-sized primary classrooms. – Is mise,

COLIN QUIGLEY,

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Trim,

Co Meath.