A school in Donegal — the home of Education Minister Joe McHugh — has one of the biggest class sizes in the country.
Figures showing one in five primary school students are in overcrowded classrooms have been described as staggering.
The Department of Education recommends class sizes don’t exceed 25 students.
However, almost half of primary schools have at least one classroom of 30 pupils or more.
The biggest class size in primary education was 42, which was recorded in three schools – two in Galway and one in Donegal, in Carndonough.
General Secretary of the INTO John Boyle says the figures are a disgrace:
Meanwhile, Education Minister and Donegal TD Joe McHugh has announced that work has been approved for a new classroom and toilets at Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town.
Minister McHugh said that more often now, plans for additional classrooms include ensuite toilets suitable for assisted users.
Minister McHugh added that it makes sense to have toilets next to the classroom, in what is a more modern and sensible approach to building design in schools.
