TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night said the country had been shocked by the tragic loss of life in Meath.

THOUSANDS of students face the prospect of spending all their school-going years in prefabs, the largest second-level teachers’ union warned last night.

A WEBSITE causing uproar because pupils are “grading” teachers on it, is also being used to bully students, according to a teachers’ union.

The Association of Secondary Teachers is demanding measures to improve discipline among secondary school pupils.

THE safety of thousands of secondary students and teachers is being put at risk because schools are failing to meet basic health and safety laws, according to a union leader.

IT remains unclear if the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) will have a new general secretary ahead of its annual convention at the end of March.

A GENERAL secretary could be in place at the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) within weeks as the position is being advertised in newspapers this week.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has taken a major step towards putting its turbulent past behind by accepting a critical report on relations between staff and the elected officers.

SECOND-LEVEL principals have welcomed plans to test all primary pupils as a way of identifying children with special needs but they want more resources to help those students.

ALMOST 2,100 upgrades were awarded to Leaving Certificate students who had appealed their results.

THE leaders of the country’s three school teacher unions have called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to reduce the size of classes at primary and second level.

SECOND-LEVEL teachers have expressed complete opposition to any drop in pension values as a result of Government changes to public service retirement ages.

THE role of elected officers in the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) should be defined more clearly and grievance procedures reviewed, according to a review of industrial relations at the union’s head office.

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey has said he will force secondary schools to enrol students being denied access to classes.

A HIGH level of alcohol and drug abuse among second-level students is disrupting classes, it was warned yesterday.

THE Leaving Cert, whilst perhaps not perfect, is perceived by most people to be fair and impartial. It has enormous international status, which has stood the test of time, despite huge changes in the world of commerce and economics.

THE Leaving Cert, whilst perhaps not perfect, is perceived by most people to be fair and impartial. It has enormous international status, which has stood the test of time, despite huge changes in the world of commerce and economics.

SPECIAL NEEDS children moving from primary to secondary school are waiting up to two years for assistance because of a lack of resources, a teachers' union leader said yesterday.

HAVING survived bitter internal squabbles and resolved their long-running pay row with Government, it is refreshing that secondary teachers are throwing their weight behind the campaign for a better deal for children with special needs.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) should consider industrial action to protect pension rights for future members, the union's acting general secretary John White said yesterday.

SCHOOLS found to be underperforming will be given more assistance to help students, Education Minister Noel Dempsey said last night.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has reversed last week’s decision not to allow Education Minister Noel Dempsey attend their annual convention.

THE shelves of the Department of Education and Science are groaning with expert reports, whose recommendations have not been implemented, despite the fact that they were commissioned at huge cost to the taxpayer.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland was in further turmoil last night after the leadership rejected Labour Court recommendations to get its house in order over relations with staff.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland failed to show up for a Labour Court hearing yesterday.

SENIOR figures in the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) are angry that internal problems are stopping the union from carrying out important business on behalf of members.