French protests a timely warning for Irish schools

Sir, – The crisis unfolding in the French education system is a timely warning to those who take the quality of our own schools for granted (“ Police fire tear gas and charge at demonstrators as French school protests escalate ”, Europe, October 6th). A severe teacher shortage, bloated class sizes and crumbling infrastructure have brought the French education system to breaking point – and we should not assume Ireland is immune. In Ireland a teacher recruitment and retention crisis has been allowed to fester for years. Class sizes remain among the highest in Europe, while many schools operate in ageing, inadequate facilities. Teachers in Ireland are about to embark on a campaign of industrial action (“ Teachers’ Union of Ireland latest group to overwhelmingly back industrial action ”, Education, October 2nd). If the system continues to be broken, it may not be teachers standing on the picket line next – it could be students. As the French government and society are now finding out, student demands and anger are not easily contained and can quickly escalate into severe, widespread disruption. – Yours, etc, SEAN KEAVNEY, Castleknock, Dublin 15.