Unrest could be sparked by other directive

THE Teachers’ Union of Ireland’s (TUI) directive on class sizes is not the only instruction to teachers likely to cause industrial relations tensions in the country’s 4,000 schools which have already started opening their doors.

Its members in second-level schools and members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) have been under directive not to teach classes more than 30, or 24 for other more practical subjects.

They have also been instructed since April not to take part in parent-teacher or staff meetings outside schools hours, or in any school development planning meetings.