By John Walshe
Thursday November 13 2008
More education cutbacks were announced last night after plans to reduce class sizes in the further education sector were revealed.
The sector currently has 30,000 students taking post- Leaving Cert courses which equip them for the workplace or higher education.
Teachers' Union of Ireland President Don Ryan said the union was furious that the cutbacks had not been revealed prior to its meeting with Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe on Tuesday. "We had our suspicions but this is another vicious attack on education," he said.
There are more than 1,000 further education courses which currently operate on a pupil teacher ratio of 16:1. But this will change to 17:1 next year which will, said Mr Ryan.
Although the department insists it had made it clear that ratios were being changed, Mr Ryan said the union had been unable to get clarification until it met the minister this week.
- John Walshe
