North West class sizes revealed

Added: 04-09-2012

It's been revealed Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have below national average primary school class sizes for 2011/2012.

Sligo has recorded an average class size of 24 students followed by both Donegal and Leitrim at 23 students per class.

However, on a national level, primary school class sizes are rising as a result of teacher cuts.

For the first time in more than twenty years, the average number of students for every teacher in the country -known as the Pupil Teacher Ratio-is on the increase.

The problem of overcrowded classrooms is now back where it was ten years ago and getting worse.

There are now over 112,800 pupils in classes of at least 30, that's up from 97,000 during 2010/11.

In the North West, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have below national average primary school class sizes but according to the Irish Independent, pupil numbers are set to grow by ten thousand a year until 2019 which is expected to put significant pressure on the system.

County Limerick was worst effected by seriously overcrowded classrooms with 31% of pupils in classes of 30 more.

While Roscommon recorded the lowest national average at 21 students per class.