SECONDARY TEACHERS are anxious about the Department of Education's failure to resolve an industrial dispute which is delaying assessment of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme.

Teachers of the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme, which is in place in more than 130 schools with up to 3,000 pupils participating, are "very angry and extremely anxious", says Rose Malone, TUI education officer. The dispute over staffing levels in Athlone, Co Westmeath, involving members of the Public Service Executive Union, has resulted in the postponement of task work assessment in the LCA and in delays in the issue of staffing schedules to schools.

"There's a tremendous feeling of betrayal and anger among teachers, students and parents. They feel they've been left high and dry. The department has a responsibility to solve this and get things back on line," Malone says.

"It could affect a whole range of exams," she says, adding that teachers "can see that the PSEU have a point".

The ASTI is also gravely concerned at the lack of progress by the Department in the dispute with the PSEU. "We have formally asked the Minister to intervene in this crisis," says ASTI general secretary John White. "The consequences are potentially disastrous for pupils currently following the LCA, and it is also potentially disastrous for the LCA programme, because schools are currently making up their mind with regard to next year and they are worried about the future of the LCA."

To date the dispute has prevented the issuing of exam numbers, the February assessment and the issuing of sample papers. In addition arrangements for other LCA exams cannot be put in train.

The PSEU says more than nine months have elapsed without any significant developments. According to Billy Hannigan, assistant general secretary of the PSEU, "members are concerned that checking procedures cannot be fulfilled with the current staffing levels, and that to guarantee the integrity of the 1997 examinations, the whole area of staff resources will have to be addressed as a matter of urgency." A spokesman for the Department of Education said last week: "We are making every effort to resolve the dispute. Consultation is on-going."