Teacher strike looms over unruly pupil aid

HUNDREDS of schools could be closed down by a teachers’ strike if Education Minister Mary Hanafin does not extend supports to schools seeking help to deal with unruly students.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) will ballot its 9,000 members working in more than 350 second-level schools on the measure after a motion passed at its annual congress in Wexford last night.

It called for a one-day strike in all second-level schools and a national demonstration if the minister does not immediately agree to provide a behaviour support room for all schools that sought the facility.