Over 120,000 children in classes of over 30 pupils

Over 9,000 students are in classes of over 35 as average class sizes have risen.

A QUARTER OF Irish primary school students were in classes of over 30 children in the last school year, it has been revealed.

The figures, released by the Department of Education, shows that in mainstream schools, the average class size was 24.7, while in special schools it was just over seven.

The class sizes show an increase from the previous, while the number of primary school teachers had risen by 247. The number of full time secondary school teachers dropped by 434.

The ratio of students to teachers has also risen across the board, up from 16.2 to 16.4 at primary level and up 13.9 to 14.3 at secondary level.

Those attending primary school rose by 10,000, while secondary schools saw an extra 4,000 enrollees.

Over 121,000 children, 23 per cent overall, were in classes of over 30 students, while 9,000 were in classes over 35 pupils.

Urban centres and suburbs had the highest concentration of students, the figures showed.

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