Surge in number of pupils in primary schools
A study commissioned by the Department of Education shows that the soaring birth rate in Ireland is creating a need for many more schools.
The study was conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office, and the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
According to the figures, the number of births last year rose to 72,000, compared to 48,255 fifteen years ago. This means that there will be over 500,000 primary school pupils in our schools for the foreseeable future.
Inward migration is another factor which is helping to push up the number of enrolments in schools.
In 2000, the number of primary school children was less than 440,000. In 2005, it had risen to 457,889 and it has been rising since.
This growth in numbers is expected to reach second level by 2016, resulting in an increase of 51,500 pupils in post primary schools and an estimated need for 50 new schools at this level.
INTO general secretary John Carr said the new figures showed the scale of the task facing the Department of Education and Science.
"The birth rate has increased by more than 40 per cent in recent years. This means additional schools, classrooms and teachers will have to be provided. The department will have to streamline procedures, and timeframes for the delivery of new schools and classrooms must be shortened," Mr Carr said. (Source: Irish Independent)
2 Responses to “Surge in number of pupils in primary schools”
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May 19th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
And yet the Dept. refuses recognition to 7 new gaelscoileanna catering for developing areas and 1 new Gaelcholáiste. Another founding committee still hasn’t heard any official response from the Dept. on their new Gaelcholáiste, despite having a building (an empty school building in the hands of its patron) and more than enough pupils. http://www.gaelcholaiste.com/
May 21st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
We have an amalgamation approved for a 600 pupil school but can’t make progress. The policy of the current Minister for education is static and frozen. The challenge will mean more portacabins, substandard schools and poor learning environments. We will here more about this for the next 10 years.