Concern over this year's exams increased last night, with a parents' group saying parents should offer to act as supervisors for the Leaving and Junior Certificates if secondary teachers banned exam work.
The National Parents' Council - Post Primary (NPCPP) said parents should offer to supervise the exams in May and June if members of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) refused as part of their pay battle with the Government.
The group, which represents hundreds of thousands of parents, said it would propose the idea to the Department of Education shortly. If teachers would not do the work, the group was confident enough parents would come forward to fill the gap.
Teachers are normally paid about £60 a day plus expenses for supervising exams. The NPCPP believes parents should be paid this money if the ASTI refuses to co-operate.
It is likely the ASTI and the other teachers' union, the Teachers' Union of Ireland, would be opposed to any such plan. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, has already committed himself to holding this year's exams. It is likely the parents' offer will be seriously considered by the Department, which is preparing a contingency plan, in case the ASTI refuses to participate in this year's exams.
Parents and teachers are awaiting the Labour Court's recommendation on the ASTI's 30 per cent claim. If the court does not recommend some kind of payment, strike action and a threat to exams will be reactivated.
The ASTI is expected to hold a fresh round of discussions with the Labour Court early next week. The association has given the Labour Court a March 4th deadline to come up with an offer. But the court, which is working to its own deadline, may not be able to produce a recommendation within this time-frame.
Ms Marie Danaswamy, president of the NPCPP, said it was "scarcely believable" that ASTI members were prepared to put children's futures on the line. "Teachers have worked hard, nurturing these children for six years, and now as we move towards the final phase of Leaving Cert study, this situation develops," she said.
"If they refuse to correct the exams they are jeopardising our children's chances of getting into college in autumn."
The call by the NPCPP reflects the increased militance of a group which has been restructured in recent months. Until recently it was a cautious voice in education, but the new leadership is more outspoken.