More issues than marking exams

Teachers say there are wider issues than who mark students behind their opposition to the replacement of the Junior Certificate with a new qualification.

Ahead of her meeting today with leaders of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan told second- level principals last week that the reforms would go ahead to the timetable already set out, but she hoped there could be positive engagement.

ASTI’s and TUI’s 27,000 second-level members have refused to take part in training, school planning or teaching short courses for the Junior Cycle Student Award since April, but both unions have mandates to escalate the industrial action to strikes.