Optimal number of students in the class

Abstract

This contribution describes the model for determining the number of pupils in the class of one teacher in primary school education in context of Slovak Republic. Actually, legislation defines the minimal and maximal number of pupils in the class. The model which we created is based on economic principles. These are usually different from “politically acceptable solutionsâ€.Our model raises up from the presumption that greater is a number of pupils in the class the parents have to study more with their children at home and complete the work of teachers at home. But greater number of pupils in the class decreases medium labor costs for teacher per pupil. The simulation permit to define different range of parameters and to compare results for different variants.

Keywords: pupils; class; number; parameters; simulation; cost function; Slovakia