Parents group calls for talks as teachers prepare for industrial action

A parents group is calling for more talks, as secondary school teachers prepare go on strike.

A row over reform of the Junior Cert programme will see 350,000 students stay at home tomorrow.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said overnight that there is no point in putting students and parents at the centre of a disagreement.

The post-primary arm of the National Parents Council agrees with the Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan that the ball is now in the unions' court, after changes were made to the plan in light of their concerns.

Another strike is planned for January and NPC Spokesman Don Myers says communication is vital.

He said: "The disruption side of it is the big issue for us at the moment and I think it is something that needs to be worked out.

"I wouldn't like to see this continue and I would hope that some sense would come out of this and that people would sit down and talk so that some form of a solution will come to this."