13th June 2019
Despite performing well in areas such as the standards of entrants to teaching, pupils’ reading levels, and public satisfaction with education; there are still big improvements to make in class sizes, funding, and support to school leadership. We are asking the Government to invest in primary education in Budget 2020 across these key areas, to make sure the children of Ireland are given the best possible start:
Reduce Class Size
Primary school classes are the largest in the Eurozone, five above the EU average of 20. Smaller classes support inclusion of children, allow more individual attention, and meets the ambition of the Government to establish the best education system in the world. A planned reduction in class size, starting in 2020, is vital.
Support Leadership
Workload burdens are making school leadership impossible. Principals and teaching principals are overworked, underpaid and struggling under never-ending administrative work. We need one leadership and management day per week for teaching principals, and restoration of promoted posts.
Fund Our Schools
Because primary schools are underfunded, many schools depend on voluntary contributions from parents to cover day-to-day running costs. Capitation grants were cut by €30 in the recession. Full restoration is urgently needed to fund basic costs.
On 19 June 2019, INTO activists will be meeting with TDs and Senators at a national lobby day to discuss these challenges, and to demand investment in primary education in Budget 2020. This is the culmination of weeks of constituency-level lobbying that has been taking place around the country.
You can help the #InvestForTheBest campaign by asking your local TD to support primary education and these key issues in Budget 2020. You can also join in the conversation online by using the hashtags #Budget2020 and #InvestForTheBest and sharing information about why it is crucial we #ReduceClassSize #SupportLeadership and #FundOurSchools.
Download the Budget 2020 postcard (pdf).