Cork primary school highlights challenges of 32‑pupil class

Star of the Sea National School in Passage West opened its doors yesterday to demonstrate the conditions faced by teachers and pupils in a senior infant class of 32 children.

Principal Aine Corrigan said the large class size reduces space for a calm corner or a library, making the classroom noisier and increasing the workload for teachers who must meet diverse needs.

She noted that while the school is committed to inclusion, managing differentiation for 32 pupils is “very hard” and takes a toll on staff energy and morale.

Nationally, 1,251 primary school classes contain 30 or more pupils, with almost 429,000 children attending classes larger than the EU average of 19 students. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is urging investment in the Budget 2027 to address overcrowding and teacher shortages.

Corrigan called for a reduced pupil‑teacher ratio, citing the government’s target of 19:1 that has not improved in three years. She argued that with a declining school‑age population, achieving a lower ratio would be cost‑neutral.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the government remains committed to reducing class sizes and will consider the issue within annual budgetary processes, noting that recent budgets have improved the primary staffing schedule to an average of 23 pupils per teacher, the most favourable level recorded.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Oliver Hung / Pexels.