The Last Word with Matt Cooper Shorter School Days Under Review As TDs Call For More 'Holistic' Education Model
Mar 30, 2026
Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and former primary school teacher, discusses education reform inspired by Finland. He outlines shorter school days, extra outdoor breaks and staggered timetables. He also talks about specialist teachers, simple hot school meals and avoiding overloading teachers while simplifying the curriculum.
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Shorter Contact Hours With Similar Outcomes
- Ireland could simplify curriculum focus to essentials while matching Finland's outcomes despite shorter contact hours.
- Cathal Crowe notes Finnish primary contact lessons ~3 hours/day versus Ireland's ~5, yet attainment remains comparable.
Stop Loading Teachers With Every Social Issue
- Avoid overloading teachers with every societal problem; instead prioritise core skills and well-being.
- Crowe warns teachers are repeatedly asked to 'fix' issues like consent or obesity, which creates an overburdened classroom.
Use Frequent Outdoor Breaks To Boost Learning
- Introduce more and regular outdoor breaks to improve learning and wellbeing.
- In Finland pupils get frequent outdoor breaks—even in cold weather—and return refreshed for lessons, prioritising PE and wellbeing.