ASTI drop ban on new science course

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has lifted its ban on a new Junior Certificate science course, after being told it breached the social partnership agreement.

The union issued the directive in August because it feared poorly equipped laboratories posed health and safety risks. The revised syllabus requires students to do around 30 experiments themselves, under the supervision of their teachers.

Last night, the Minister for Education Noel Dempsey welcomed the report of the arbitration board.