Limerick members of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) will vote on a resolution today calling for a public sworn inquiry into how management at the Limerick Institute of Technology handled a suspicious exam paper.
A second-year National Certificate in Construction Studies student was suspended from the college after internal examiners noticed last June that he reproduced answers in an exam which totally resembled model answers used in correcting papers.
The internal examiners brought the similarities to the attention of the exam board, made up of internal and external examiners, who dealt with the case earlier this month after it was investigated during the summer.
The student was suspended and will not be allowed to repeat his second-year exams until May 2002. The course is approved by the National Council for Educational Awards.
One source said college staff believe they were not supported by management in bringing the case to light and are unhappy about the circumstances surrounding the investigation.
The Limerick TD, Mr Willie O'Dea, who is Minister of State for Education, said he was aware of the case, which he regarded as serious. He had discussed the handling of it with the Minister for Education, Mr Woods, who was investigating the circumstances around it.
Union members will vote on the motion calling for the public inquiry and other related motions at a meeting in the college at 1 p.m. today. The Limerick Institute of Technology has about 3,500 full-time students and 3,000 part-time students, including those on adult education courses.