Further talks key to Junior Cert deal

Further talks between teacher unions and the Department of Education over the next five weeks will be key to the chances of a positive outcome on changes to junior cycle education.

The executives of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) decided yesterday to call votes of their members on the agreement with Jan O’Sullivan, the education minister.

That agreement varies slightly — but in some crucial aspects — from the most recent proposals in February.