Hopes of breakthrough in teachers row remain slim

Hopes of a breakthrough in the teachers’ dispute with the Government over junior cycle reform look slim, despite fresh talks planned next week.

Second-level unions and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan say they remain willing to discuss the impasse over who assesses Junior Certificate students. But neither side showed signs of budging yesterday from their current positions.

Around 340,000 students lost out on another day’s education at 720 second-level schools in the second strike in seven weeks by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI).