Students have been urged to ignore speculation about the exams, particularly on social media, and stay focused on their studies as schools look set to remain closed.

Hundreds of schools nationwide are to remain shut today as almost 20,000 educators strike over what they describe as an ongoing failure to eliminate pay discrimination within the teaching profession.

Thousands of teachers and lecturers have vowed to ramp up their campaign of industrial action in a bid to end “pay discrimination”, warning there will be no ‘honeymoon period’ for the next government.

With more than half of Irish students never having sat a computer-based assessment before the OECD’s latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, students here received a “significantly and substantially” lower score on the use of digital technology in class compared to other countries.

I thought they were just mothers at the school gate. Friendly. Helpful with the children.

More than two-thirds of teachers struggle to make ends meet.

It is not surprising that the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has taken a strong position on the two-tier pay scale.

Two largest unions opposed to Government pay gap proposals

A vote for industrial action in schools could leave more than 36,000 primary teachers thousands of euro out of pocket in pursuit of equal pay for equal work.

Nurses unions have not ruled out the possibility of industrial action after recommending its members reject the Government’s pay proposals.

The Government is likely to pass this week’s proposed pay restoration measures for teachers at next month’s budget with the possibility of school strikes looming large.

Schools must allow teachers paid breastfeeding breaks for up to two years after the birth of a child, under an 18-month extension agreed by the Departm

The possibility of a strike ballot by 70,000 teachers to push for restoration of pay equality remains a possibility ahead of next month’s budget.

Teacher unions will be consulted by a steering group examining ways to deal with the problems schools face in recruiting teachers, the Department of Education has promised.

Leaving Certificate 2018 ended much as it started, with warm weather and a fairly good reception for the day’s papers.

The divisiveness of Trump’s America First policy and the centenary of parliamentary voting rights for some women featured in the first Leaving Certificate politics and society exams.

There were examinations of technical and vocational skills in both of yesterday’s set of Junior Certificate exams.

Almost 8,000 Leaving Certificate agricultural science students took yesterday morning’s papers, which Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesman Peter Keaney thought were very manageable.

Some difficult comprehension passages opened the second higher-level Leaving Certificate Irish paper yesterday morning.

There were mixed assessments of yesterday’s second Leaving Certificate higher level maths paper.

Maths and science kicked off the second week of Junior Certificate exams yesterday.

It was a full day of Irish for around half the 55,000 Junior Certificate students taking the subject at higher level yesterday.

Making religion an optional subject for students at hundreds of second-level schools has forced trainee teachers to look for work abroad, an educationalist has warned.

Teachers could lose €6,000 over two years if they participate in industrial action, including strikes, in support of equal pay for newer entrants to the job.

The loss of hundreds of members to a rival union has forced the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) into a campaign to try and win them back.

A second-level student in Dublin told his pregnant teacher he would “kick the baby out of her” — and was allowed return to class the next day.

The Government has been warned of a backlash at the ballot box by 70,000 teachers and their families if pay equality is not addressed in upcoming talks.

Young teachers are putting their lives on hold due to their lower level of pay, according to newly-qualified members of the profession.

More than 60,000 teachers could be asked to sanction strikes in the next school year if the Government does not resolve pay inequality within the procession within weeks.

Almost half of new entrants to post-primary teaching do not think they will be in the profession in 10 years’ time — but if pay parity with their longer-serving colleagues is restored almost all believe they would remain.

Institutes of technology could face disruption as lecturers are being balloted on industrial action up to strikes over delays to a review of their duties and workload.

More and shorter routes to becoming second-level teachers are needed to help meet the growing need for staff, a schools leader has said.

Significant investment in maintaining standards will be vital if more assessment methods are used for the Leaving Certificate, TDs and senators have heard.

Education Minister Richard Bruton is under pressure to provide the extra staff to allow students to be offered alternative subjects, in place of religion, at hundreds of second-level schools.