ASTI calls on Quinn to rethink junior cert reform

Secondary school teachers are calling on the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to rethink plans to radically reform the junior cycle.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland says Quinn's proposals risk undermining educational standards.

The union is today publishing the results of a survey of around 10,000 teachers in 320 schools around the country.

ASTI assistant general secretary Moira Leydon says there are concerns at plans to drop external assessments and the Junior Cert.

"With this model, there will be no external benchmarking process whereby the mark that is generated at school level can be compared to other marks at schools.

"There is a legitimate fear that if we move away from a state certificate system to a school certificate system, it will be viewed as worthless."