Parents of children with special needs hope to bring towns and cities to a standstill amid growing anger over cuts to extra teaching that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn denies will take place.

The Department of Education’s decision that schools not be told until this week of cuts to extra teaching for children with special needs, has been criticised by education figures.

Secondary school teachers fear planned changes to the Junior Certificate could damage educational standards and break down trust between students and parents.

Institutes of technology believe efforts to ease pressures of the college points race should not be too focused on Leaving Certificate maths performance.