Seeking a sensible end to the impasse on Junior Cert reform

Teachers and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan are at loggerheads about reforms to the junior cycle. Education Correspondent Niall Murray looks at the background to the dispute

Q: Why did teacher unions decide not to accept junior cycle reform plans put forward over the last two weeks by independent talks chairman Pauric Travers?

The leaders of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) do not trust the department not to fast-track implementation of reforms while industrial action was suspended, having considered the plan until the early hours of Saturday morning.