‘Schools can fairly assess junior cert students’

Students can be assessed by their own teachers in a replacement of the Junior Certificate in a way that is fair and leads to improved learning, the country’s chief schools inspector says.

Harold Hislop believes the dispute between the Department of Education and teacher unions over reform plans, focused mainly on the requirement that teachers mark their students for the Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA), will be overcome.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan had preliminary talks with the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and Teachers’ Union of Ireland this month, but they are still on industrial action that bans taking part in training, school planning or other elements of the JCSA rollout.