TUI warns of resistance to Junior Certificate reforms

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has warned Education Minister Ruairi Quinn its members could refuse to co-operate with the replacement of the Junior Certificate if he does not give a commitment for the necessary supports and funding in the next month.

Despite three meetings with his officials and the promise of a working group on junior cycle reform to consider teachers’ and schools’ concerns, the union said it would ballot members to secure agreement not to co-operate with the changes if their worries are not addressed. The date of the first meeting of that working group has been set for Jan 17, formally announced by Mr Quinn as the deadline for the issues to be resolved.

The threat adds to the industrial relations difficulties facing Mr Quinn in 2014, with the prospect of strikes or closures at 500 schools staffed by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland from the same week in January if they reject the Haddington Road Agreement in a ballot that closes this evening.