General Election: Galway schools call for action on student-teacher ratios

Galway’s education sector has continued to face challenges and barriers that parties are promising to address ahead of the upcoming General Election. 

Concerns of increasing student-teacher ratios, overcrowded classrooms and gaps in resources are particularly prominent in primary schools in the area. 

Increased enrollment has not been met with adequate resources

According to the Department of Education’s Statistical Bulletin, the Galway area has seen a 3.6 per cent increase in enrolment figures over the last 10 years. This increase has not been met with sufficient resources. 

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) states that class sizes in Ireland remain on average the highest in the EU, at 22.5 compared to the EU standard of 19. 

INTO President Carmel Browne appealed for Government support at the launch of the union’s general election manifesto, outlining 30 areas of investment needed by 2030: 

“We are calling on every politician seeking election to support this vision and ensure that no teacher, no child, and no school is left behind.” 

The organisation is calling for 300 additional places to be provided in primary teacher education programmes, and restructured teaching salaries to address the nationwide shortages.  

They also want incentives for teachers who have emigrated to return home. Emigration has had a detrimental effect on substitute teacher supply at home. 

“Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential”

This is a particularly urgent issue in the Galway area, as confirmed to Galway Pulse by Gerry Murray, a local principal and INTO representative for Galway and Roscommon: 

“There are not enough teachers. While the problem is more acute in the east of the country, it has become a lot harder to fill short term positions in the west.

“I have found it very difficult to fill substitute positions in my own school this year. Most, if not all principals in the Galway area are experiencing the same difficulty. We need more teacher training places. We need to incentivise Irish teachers working abroad to return home.” 

This will in turn reduce overall class sizes, a step towards reaching the desired student-teacher ratio of 19:1. 

“Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it’s very difficult for this to happen in a large class.” 

Additionally, special education remains a cause for concern in many schools. Dominic Gallagher, principal of a large primary school in Galway, describes a “critical shortage of specialist teachers” across the county.  

“Overcrowded classrooms exacerbate this issue, as teachers struggle to provide the individualized support necessary for students with special needs.” 

A renewed commitment to students and teachers alike

Education is a priority for Fianna Fáil, as per their General Election Manifesto.

In response to these concerns in the Galway area, Cllr John Connolly, Fianna Fáil candidate for Galway West and teacher by profession, outlined his intentions for growth in teacher supply to Galway Pulse. 

Cllr Connolly sees the addition of a postgraduate primary education qualification to University of Galway’s offerings as vital to “future-proofing the supply of teachers” in the West in the coming years: 

“With the broad student body who attend the university from across the western seaboard, is uniquely positioned to meet this demand and contribute to increasing the supply of primary teachers across the West and North West.” 

Fianna Fáil aims to reach a student-teacher ratio of 19:1. They have also promised to increase capitation by 40 per cent to improve resources per pupil, which is currently “woefully inaccurate”, according to another local principal. 

“It is the desire of our party to continue to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. Ensuring that there is an increase in the number of teaching graduates annually would help to do so.” 

Student teacher ratios at the forefront

Other parties have released manifestos in recent days, outlining their intentions for the future of the education sector. 

Although Fine Gael has not directly addressed the issue of classroom overcrowding, the party has stated several other commitments to the sector.

Incentives for teachers abroad to return, modernisation of Leaving Certificate exams and several improvements in the area of special education form part of their manifesto.

The Labour Party has made a commitment to a reduced student-teacher ratio, whilst the Green Party is moving to incentivise teaching as a career, alongside other policies affecting the sector.  

Independent Ireland and Right to Change have also committed to reducing classroom overcrowding nationwide.

In the most recently released manifestos, Sinn Féin have also called for reduced student-teacher ratios, beginning in the most overcrowded classrooms, alongside prioritising special education and a number of other measures.

The Social Democrats are commiting to a primary school student-teacher ratio of 20:1, and 18:1 in secondary schools. They also promise increased numbers of Special Needs Assistants, and raising minimum qualification for the post to Level Six.

The General Election will take place on Friday, November 29.