ASTI conference to discuss contentious inspection reports

The controversial issue of school inspection reports is due to be discussed at the annual conference of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ennis today.

Yesterday, the Irish National Teachers Organisation voted not to co-operate with the Government's plan to begin publishing inspection reports for all schools next June.

The organisation is concerned that individual teachers will be easily identified and their reputations unfairly damaged by the reports, which are due to be published on the Department of Education website.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has warned that refusal to co-operate will be regarded by the Government as a breach of the Sustaining Progress agreement.

Teachers are due to receive a 2.5% pay increase under that agreement in June, but the payment is contingent upon co-operation with "modernisation" measures.

However, ASTI general secretary John White says teachers have genuine concerns that helping to compile inspection reports will detract from their classroom work.