Cork school set to have 34 infants in one class - 'no teacher is capable of educating that many'

Carrigaline Municipal District will write to the education minister about teacher allocation for a primary school planning a senior infants class with 34 pupils. Star of the Sea primary school in Passage West will combine two junior infant classes into a single senior infants class for the 2026-27 school year. Councillors raised concerns that 34 pupils in one class is too high for effective teaching, especially for children entering a school environment. They cited a programme for government commitment of 19 pupils to one teacher, describing the planned ratio as nearly double. The motion also criticises delays in formal planning and notes that the MD has repeatedly had to lobby for school places and buildings.

"“I think 34 students to one class, it's not capable for any teacher to teach 34. It's such an important point in their life when they're really starting to grow, they're coming into a school environment. If you look at the programme for government, there's a 19 [pupils]-to-1 [teacher] commitment, this is nearly double that,” he said."

"“It's disappointing that the MD is again having to write to the minister because of 'children in this MD being let down in terms of school places or school buildings.' The MD recently wrote to the minister to get an update on plans for a new building for a Carrigaline primary school that has been in temporary accommodation for six years.”"

"“Way behind the curve in terms of formal planning for classes in schools. It's very worrying for parents. You're thinking forward to these big milestones in school, but it's a huge concern for people when you see a class of possibly 34 senior infants in a room. It's crazy in 2026 that the MD has to lobby a government department about this.”"

"“With my teacher hat on, of course I would welcome the 19-to-1 commitment to be upheld. I think it's very important for infants to have as small a class as possible for a very important year of their life. This is something that has to be done on a national level. Hopefully Star of the Sea will get the allocation they need for Se”"

Read at Irish Independent