Junior cycle reform is not a money-saving exercise: Minister

Claims that disputed junior cycle reforms are a money-saving exercise have been rejected by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

About 27,000 teachers will strike on Tuesday, forcing the closure of 730 second-level schools, as the stand-off continues between their two unions and the minister over who should assess students on new coursework planned to form part of the new three-year programme.

Ms O’Sullivan said anybody who argued the changes were about saving money was wrong.