Teachers condemn Dempsey’s use of the media

Education Correspondent

THE head of the largest secondary teachers union last night accused Education Minister Noel Dempsey of briefing the media on his strategy about their objection to a new science course before telling them.

The Department of Education told the Irish Examiner on Monday that officials were examining the ASTI directive not to teach the new Junior Certificate science syllabus with regard to the implementation of the social partnership agreement. The acceptance of Sustaining Progress by public servants, including teachers, was a condition of them receiving pay increases under the benchmarking process.