Teachers’ union opposes Junior Cert reforms

MAJOR reforms of the Junior Certificate face opposition as a teachers’ union claims they can not be achieved while schools are suffering major cuts to staffing and other resources.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn wants radical changes introduced for students beginning second level in a year’s time, including his announcement in July that no student should sit exams in more than eight subjects from 2015. But he is awaiting proposals on the design of the reformed junior cycle programme from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).

Their recommendations are being finalised, with an emphasis on reducing the marks awarded to students for performance in the written exams in June and more continuous assessment planned. However, the proportion of marks to be given for assessments of portfolio work or other testing has yet to be decided, with the NCCA undecided on whether they should count for half or more of all marks in some or all subjects.