Teacher unions pressed on overhaul

New assessment methods for junior cert students are to be covered in training which Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan plans to take place next month despite an ongoing union ban on 27,000 teachers attending.

She called yesterday for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) to reconsider their position and consult their members again on the overhaul of junior cycle teaching and assessment.

The leaders of the two unions have refused to conduct ballots on final proposals that emerged last month, which the minister said are significantly different to those on the table a year ago when their members decided on industrial action.