Union leaders support Junior Certificate reform

The possible resolution of the long-running junior cycle dispute has moved a step closer as leaders of a teachers’ union recommended their members back the final reform plan.

Ahead of a ballot of 10,000 second-level teaching members next month, the central executive of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) made the decision on the deal reached with Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan and her officials during the summer.

The minister welcomed yesterday’s decision but did not make any further comment in advance of the matter being considered by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI).