Teacher unions agree to hear junior cycle proposals

Proposals for a deal in the ongoing row over the junior cycle will be considered by teacher unions after their leaders agreed to changes in the terms of talks seeking to find a resolution.

However, the executives of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) stressed that any proposals which talks chairman Pauric Travers may suggest can only be made as the basis for further discussions with the Department of Education, rather than being for binding recommendation.

The unions also say they must make further representations to Mr Travers, to clarify their joint position on the issues, before he can formulate any proposals.

The conditions were outlined in a joint statement after the matter was considered separately by the ASTI standing committee and the executive committee of TUI.

The idea of Mr Travers, a former president of St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, bringing forward proposals to progress the talks was made on Tuesday by department officials. Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said the unions’ decision to proceed with discussions around forthcoming proposals is a positive development.

“I have already indicated my willingness to consider proposals put forward by Dr Travers to resolve the current dispute and implement junior cycle reform,” said Ms O’Sullivan.

Both sides have met twice in the past nine days under Mr Travers’ chairmanship to seek resolution to the dispute, which centres on the question of who should mark students for coursework worth 40% of marks in a revised Junior Certificate.

The unions have held two one-day strikes, the most recent closing 720 schools on January 22. However, with Junior and Leaving Certificate oral and practical exams approaching, no date is set for a third strike.

Their position since the previous education minister, Ruairí Quinn, first published reform proposals in 2012 has been to oppose any assessment for the exams by students’ own teachers. Although Ms O’Sullivan agreed to maintain the Junior Certificate as a state-certified exam, after Mr Quinn wanted it managed instead at school level, she wants teachers to mark their own students on coursework.

Mr Quinn had proposed all three elements — two coursework tests and a final written exam in each subject — be marked in schools. The mix of school-based and external assessment put forward by Ms O’Sullivan in November mirrors the 2011 proposal by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Since April, the 27,000 second-level members of both unions have been on industrial action involving non-participation in teacher training, school planning, or meeting related to implementing junior cycle reforms. However, a revised English curriculum is being taught since September to first-year students, who will be the first to face new assessment methods next year.