Teachers refuse to teach science over 'unsafe' labs

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 Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI), whose members work in around 450 of the country's 750 second-level schools, has issued a directive to its members not to instruct the syllabus.

It was to be introduced by those schools which chose to do so from September, meaning some could continue teaching the old course.