A survey of schools by a teachers' trade union has found that a majority are preparing to increase the voluntary contributions they request of parents in order to try make up for the shortfall caused by cutbacks.
The ASTI surveyed 20 second level schools and found that 15 of them planned to ask parents for an increase in contributions this September.
More than half said that they would be forced to reduce subject choice for students, dropping such subjects as chemistry, music and home economics.
Almost half the schools said they would be forced to curtail or drop special programmes, such as the Leaving Certificate Applied and transition year.
The survey found that some schools were losing more than two teachers.
