Many primary schools in Kilkenny operating with just a principal and one teacher
Eleven (11) primary schools in County Kilkenny are operating with just a principal and one teacher for the current 2023/24 teaching year, new figures have revealed.
Twelve (12) other primary schools in Kilkenny are operating with a principal and two teachers.
These statistics were recently released in Dáil Éireann by the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, following a request from Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív.
They reveal that the counties with the largest number of schools operating with just a principal and one teacher were Galway (55), Donegal (54) and Mayo (51).
Nationally, there are also ten schools operating with just a principal, with three of them in County Mayo.
Reacting to the statistics, the Minister for Education stated that she has prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
"This brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of one classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level," she said.
"A three point reduction in the retention schedule, which I introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
"It should be noted that this is provisional at this time and that final numbers will be known in November when the staffing process has completed at the end of this month."