Most schools not able to deliver Junior Cert reforms in spring

Only about one in four schools will be in a position to roll out long-awaited reforms to the Junior Cert early next year, according to figures compiled by teachers' groups.

Under the reforms, classroom-based assessments are due to be carried out for second-year students in English from spring 2016. However, the bulk of schools will not be in a position to deliver the new changes because they are staffed by members of the 18,000-strong Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), which has rejected the reforms.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), which represents about 9,000 teachers at second level, supports the reforms.

However, schools with a mixture of ASTI and TUI members will not be in a position to participate in training for the reforms as they are designed to be provided to all staff members in individual schools.

The Education and Training Boards Ireland, which administers 275 second-level schools, estimates that about 60 of its schools will not take part in training because they have a mixed membership.

Disappointing

Overall, the group estimates that about one in four of all 700-plus secondary schools will not be in a position to deliver the training.

Its general secretary Michael Moriarty said it was disappointing that pupils in many of its schools would lose out.

“We’ve always supported the changes. They’re important changes which mean that a teacher will be less of an instructor and more a guide to students. They’re changes which are in keeping with the success stories in other European countries,” he said.

“We’d love to see it in all our schools. But we have to deal with the practical realities – and half a loaf is better than no bread at all.”

A spokeswoman for the ASTI said the union had instructed its members in about 530 schools not to take part in in-service training linked to the new changes.

Under the changes, classroom-based assessments are due to be extended from English to science and business studies in 2017, rolling out to all other subjects by 2020.

Concern

The National Parents’ Council (Post-Primary) has expressed concern that students’ education was being placed at risk as a result of the dispute.

“We are sliding into an uneven education platform in schools where teachers who are members of the TUI have undertaken training, while members of the ASTI haven’t,” a spokesman said.

“We need to put to the forefront the education of the student, the people who are at the centre of this and are the ones losing out.

“It’s time to settle this once and for all. Why have one union seen fit to agree to this and another not?”

The planned reforms were accompanied by 18 months of industrial action, including two strike days and a boycott of teacher training orchestrated by both unions.

With a turnout of 38 per cent, the ASTI rejected proposals last September by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

The TUI accepted by a margin of 69 per cent to 31 per cent on a 60 per cent turnout.