Sports fixtures hit by teachers’ action

The impact of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland industrial action that was suspended last night had already started reaching beyond the classroom and into sporting competitions.

More than 17,000 teachers picketed over 500 schools for the second time in a fortnight yesterday.

Around 400 of them were due to stay closed indefinitely owing to lack of staff to supervise students or provide substitute cover for teacher absences, with ASTI members going unpaid for each day their schools did not open for students.