Primary education consists of an eight year cycle: junior infants, senior infants, and first to sixth classes. Pupils normally transfer to post-primary education at the age of twelve.
The general aims of primary education are:
To enable the child to live a full life as a child and to realise his or her potential as a unique individual
To enable the child to develop as a social being through living and co-operating with others and so contribute to the good of society
To prepare the child for a continuum of learning.