The Labour Party unveiled its proposals on education yesterday.

It committed itself to planned improvement in the quality of education given, ensuring value for money investment both in facilities and structures as well as in recurrent expenditure to improve the quality of teaching.

The plan insists on the national curriculum and on courses to help those whose academic standards have fallen, although it does not say that the trade schools must be re-established.

There must be more emphasis on research at university, where the stipends system will continue.

At the lower end of the scale, there will be a new year between kindergarten and primary school, and obligatory education will go up to 17 years of age. No class at primary level can be of more than 25 children and no primary school have more than 400 students. An assessment structure will be brought in to lessen the pressure on children preparing for Junior Lyceum exams.

Heads of school will be relieved of administration duties so that they can focus on the curriculum.

As regards the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools, a Labour government would first assess it and then take a decision.