New hopes for negotiation between teacher unions and the Department of Education over Junior Cycle reform have emerged, after both sides indicated a willingness to discuss the obstacles.
Speaking at the Teachers’ Union of Ireland conference in Kilkenny yesterday, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn defended his reform of the Junior Cycle. But he suggested that despite almost universal opposition from teachers, there is now a more conciliatory tone emerging from the TUI, with union president Gerard Craughwell saying that he and many teachers were enthusiastic about certain aspects of Junior Cycle reform.
'Infrastructure'
"The Department of Education has to work with teachers and school management to ensure that the resources are in place for this exciting development in Irish education, including the ICT infrastructure and management positions," said Mr Craughwell.
Speaking later on The Last Word on Today FM, Mr Craughwell insisted that the Junior Cycle should be State-certified and that teachers should not mark the work of their own pupils, but said that he would sit down with the Department of Education and that "we can make this work".
Earlier, during a heated and impassioned debate which highlighted teachers’ near-universal dislike of the new Junior Cycle, TUI general secretary John MacGabhann warned them that they are legally obliged to teach the new Junior Cycle syllabus or risk losing their jobs.
A series of speakers lined up to oppose Junior Cycle reform, with one third-level lecturer, Cillian Ó Súilleabháin, telling second-level teachers that they could expect to spend a full month correcting continuous assessment material if the changes go ahead.
Industrial action
Teachers are currently engaged in an industrial action, which began on April 7th, in which they are withdrawing co-operation from the proposed Junior Cycle assessment methods and refusing to attend in-service training.
Teachers at the conference also declared that school inspections are “educationally counter-productive” and claimed that they “undermine” both the role of trade unions and the professionalism of teachers.
TUI members said that school inspectors lack subjectivity, do not use transparent and accountable inspection criteria, and fail to take a “holistic overview” of a teacher’s ability. Teachers also said that inspectors do not provide unambiguous feedback.
