Union pickets stop junior-cycle courses for teachers

Dozens of teachers were prevented from attending junior-cycle English training by the picketing of venues by their unions yesterday.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said they were protecting members under pressure to be the first to assess their own students under disputed reform plans.

ASTI president Philip Irwin and TUI counterpart Gerry Quinn were among a small group of national, regional, and branch officers to picket the Monaghan Education Centre, while a picket was also placed on Sligo Education Centre.