its targets for the reduction of class sizes for the first two years of primary school.

And the move has won the support of primary school principals who say it has improved teaching and learning.

He said the Ministry of Education pledged to reduce class sizes to 15 or fewer on average in Primary One and Primary Two classes in all schools across the Island.

And yesterday, he published figures showing that there are now just over 14 students on average in P1 classes and 13.4 on average in P2 classes.

He said it was a substantial reduction from the average of 19.5 students in P1 and 21.3 students in P2 in just two years.

Sen. Scott said the average class size for P3 has also dropped below 15 students per class, although there are still some individual classes with more than 20 students and he hopes to tackle those next.

He said a great deal of work has gone on behind the scenes to make sure that schools were able to meet the targets.

Both officials from the Ministries of Education and Works and Engineering have worked with principals to make it possible to meet the targets.

And he said principals had written to the Ministry to comment on the new class sizes.

One said: "We are noticing that 90 percent of our students read in Primary One by October -- our severely challenged students can read by December, many signing words or pointing to words when hearing them. The interest is unbelievable.'' And another wrote: "A big plus all round -- the classes are more manageable, leading to a better behaved class and, in the end, a more teachable class.''