Schools see language support teacher numbers dwindle [LongfordLeader]
- Published: 01 October 2009
Schools in some parts of Longford have lost English language teachers in recent months with some seeing their student to teacher ratios double because of Government cutbacks. A growing number of primary schools have begun to feel the full force of budgetary revisions over teaching posts even though enrolment levels continue to rise.
Principal of St Mary's National School in Edgeworthstown Helen O'Gorman said the difficulties facing schools up and down the county are becoming gloomier by the day. "We have lost two language support teachers. Last year we had five teachers for 99 students but now we only have three teachers for 120 students," she said. The radical changes that have hit schools like St Mary's mean pupil-teacher ratios have gone from 20 students per teacher to 40 students per teacher in the last year alone.
Full Story: http://www.longfordleader.ie
