Quinn 'prepared to sit down with teachers' to discuss new Junior Cycle

The Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has indicated he may be willing to negotiate with teachers over his Junior Cert reforms.

Mr Quinn says he understands their concerns over marking their own students' papers and is open to discuss it.

Members of the ASTI and TUI are both withdrawing from planning and training meetings over the programme which they say is "unworkable".

However, the Minister says he is hopeful the matter can be resolved.

He said: "I'm very prepared to sit down with teachers and their representatives. How do we get to that particular point, what is the best way?

"There is no rigid road map about the form of the assessment, but there's a clear policy decision which is, we don’t young people to leave school at 15, we don't need a State examination."

The minister's optimism is not shared by ASTI General Secretary Pat King.