THE vocational teachers were asked to give Education Minister Noel Dempsey a polite welcome and when arrived they applauded on cue.

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey is good at raising "half-baked ideas" but has done nothing about expert reports, the Teachers Union of Ireland said yesterday.

SCHOOLS are afraid to expel disruptive students because they fear they will be re-instated on appeal, according to vocational teachers.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey is likely to receive a frosty reception when he appears at the three main teaching union conferences this week.

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey has buried his differences with the Teachers Union of Ireland and will attend its annual congress.

THERE was uncertainty last night whether or not Education Minister Noel Dempsey will attend the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) annual congress in Galway next month.

THE green light for the Cork School of Music may relieve some pressure on the Government with the withdrawal of campaigner Gerry Kelly from this summer’s local elections.

ALMOST 450 schools have been given €31 million for urgent structural and repair work during the summer holidays.

AN €18 million programme giving free internet access to the country’s 4,000 schools is pointless without more classroom computers, teachers have warned.

Education Correspondent Niall Murray reports on the increase in early school-leavers.

THE jails earmarked for closure or transfer out of the prison system are the most progressive in the State and have the highest rates of inmates on education programmes, teachers working in the facilities said yesterday.

LESS than half the country’s second- level schools have decided to teach a revised science course which caused a major dispute between a teachers’ union and the Government.

GALWAY are facing a goal-keeping crisis ahead of tonight’s FAI Carlsberg Cup semi-final clash with Longford at Flancare Park (7.45pm).

By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent PLANS to overhaul the education system, including a revamped Leaving Certificate exam, longer school hours and smaller classes have been drawn up.

THE Teachers Union of Ireland is to allow members the option of teaching the revised Junior Certificate science syllabus but will be closely monitoring Government delivery of upgraded school labs.

MORE money is being spent on education but the Government has failed to increase investment as a percentage of its overall spending power.

FINE GAEL’S controversial call to abandon the €1.2 billion benchmarking process may result in a major backlash against the party.

Education Correspondent

By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent TEACHERS at most of the country's second-level schools will refuse to teach a new Junior Certificate science syllabus from next week because they claim funding shortages are making school laboratories unsafe.

THE implementation of a new science course for Junior Certificate students looks uncertain as teachers consider the health and safety implications for schools without proper facilities.

PAYMENTS to thousands of teachers and students could be delayed because of strike at the offices of the country’s Vocational Education Committees.

EVERY school in the country will open and close for holidays on the same days under a deal with teachers as part of the benchmarking agreement.

SECONDARY schools could be in for more disruption as the ASTI teachers' union decides its next move in the row over supervision and substitution.

TEACHERS will seek extra pay and strict conditions if a Leaving Certificate based on greater continuous assessment is introduced by the Government.

THE two teacher unions which took part in the benchmarking process have lashed out at business leaders for trying to interfere with the payment of awards.

The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has accepted proposals on pensionability for supervision and substitution payments.

PARENTS have warned the Government there will be national outrage if child benefit is taxed in December’s Budget.

Last year's beaten finalists Galway qualified for the All-Ireland Vocational schools senior hurling final with a decisive victory over a disappointing Offaly side at Loughrea yesterday evening.