New junior cycle not preparing students adequately for Leaving Cert, ASTI report finds

ASTI member John Conneely, science teacher at St. Flannans, Ennis, Co Clare: 'We need to get the balance right between knowledge and skills'.

There is “profound and universal concern” among teachers about the current Junior Certificate framework as only 13% of respondents felt it adequately prepares students for the Leaving Certificate.

Almost 3,000 members responded to an Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) survey of teachers’ experiences implementing the new Framework for Junior Cycle on a gradual basis since 2014.