Protracted negotiations yesterday averted a threat to the marking of this year's Leaving Cert Irish papers, reports Emmet Oliver, Education Correspondent.
Higher-level teachers gathering for their post-exam marking conference in Athlone, Co Westmeath, at one stage refused to collect the papers in protest at the rate for correcting scripts. The teachers said the £16 rate per candidate was about £1.30 lower than the rate for higher-level English.
Heated exchanges between teachers and Department of Education officials took place.
Negotiations between Department officials and ASTI and TUI representatives persuaded teachers to take the scripts. A committee has been formed to look at the issue.