School hours should remain but more breaks needed
Irish education official Cathal Crowe suggests that primary school hours should remain unchanged, but advocates for more frequent breaks throughout the day. He argues that the current curriculum is overburdened with too many subjects and social initiatives, causing stress for both students and teachers.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing debate regarding student well-being and the pressure on educational systems to solve broader societal issues.
The Chair of the Oireachtas Education Committee Cathal Crowe has said he does not think the primary school day should be changed for younger pupils but that more breaks should be given during the day.
His comments come following a report in today's Irish Examiner that primary school hours are to be reviewed.
The newspaper reported that the Department of Education will examine the shorter school day for junior and senior infants, who typically finish an hour earlier than older primary pupils.
The arrangement has long been cited as a challenge for parents, who often have to collect younger children before returning later to pick up older siblings, according to the Examiner.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One programme, Mr Crowe said that he did not think there was a need to review the school day but that things within the school day could be looked at.
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