Principals: Offer is enough to stop teacher strike

Bodies representing school boards and principals believe the junior cycle reform offer to unions should be enough for them to call off strikes that threaten to close 730 schools from December 2.

As news of the planned Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) action emerged at lunchtime, there was disappointment among other education partners. They said Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan had done enough to allay concerns of teachers and about many elements of the proposals forward over two years ago.

“We don’t want any disruption to our schools and we see enough in the minister’s offer to allow this to be carried out. In particular, restoring a State certificate goes a long way to addressing concerns about possible differences in standards of assessment between schools,” said Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body that represents 380 secondary schools.