The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has indicated that second-level teachers could be open to legal action if they do not implement new syllabuses in home economics and biology within weeks.
According to confidential minutes from a recent meeting between Mr Dempsey and the ASTI, the Minister warned the union that teachers could find themselves in a serious position if they refused to teach the syllabuses issued earlier this year by the Department. The minutes were circulated at a recent meeting of the ASTI executive.
Last night, Mr Dempsey said he would be making no comment about any leaked document.
So far the ASTI has refused to co-operate with the new syllabuses in home economics and biology until its pay claim is addressed by the Government. However, Mr Dempsey has said he will defer the introduction of the syllabuses, but only until November 1st. The minutes record Mr Dempsey as stating: "The Minister asked the ASTI to consider the legal position of teachers if they refused to teach the syllabus which the Minister has issued".
Mr Dempsey has strongly urged the union to co-operate with the changes.
He has emphasised that new syllabuses are needed so the two subjects can be made more relevant and up-to-date.
The ASTI has just completed a consultation process which attempted to assess the views among its members on benchmarking and other matters.
It will now hold a special convention on October 19th to discuss benchmarking, supervision and the new syllabuses.
The motion to go before the convention on supervision reads: "That the proposals for a scheme for the provision on a paid basis of supervision and substitution in schools, including the arrangements for pensionable payments, be put to a ballot of members".
The benchmarking motion reads: "That the question of a ballot on the pay award to teachers in the report of the benchmarking body be referred to central exeuctive council when the dates for implementation of the award and the proposals for modernisation are known".
The convention will debate a motion on pay which will seek a mandate for the ASTI's standing committee to devise a strategy to further the union's pay objectives and report back to the central executive committee by January.
In relation to new syllabuses, the motion reads: "Convention, having considered all of the issues surrounding the ban on the implementation of new syllabi, directs that a ballot of members be conducted on whether to continue the ban".