Federated Farmers has climbed into the education debate saying increasing class sizes will disadvantage rural children.

Education spokesperson Jeanette Maxwell, says increasing the ration of pupils to teachers will adversely affect rural education and potentially put workers off taking jobs in areas with reduced teacher numbers.

Ms Maxwell says Federated Farmers doesn’t want to see children’s futures compromised.

She says many rural schools are already understaffed, and having just three teachers to around 60 children, ranging from five to 14 years old is quite common.

Under the new rules those children would only qualify for two teachers.

Some schools already operate under a sole charge teacher situation.