Sir, – To resist unsound changes to the Junior Cycle being imposed by Government, ASTI and TUI members have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, up to and including strike action if necessary. In addition to the clear opposition of teachers themselves to school-based assessment, a national opinion poll last May showed that the majority of the public are opposed to teachers correcting their own students’ work for certification purposes.
Our main areas of opposition to Junior Cycle changes relate to the planned removal of national certification and external assessment, both of which provide status and credibility to the assessment process.
Such credibility is linked with the high level of public trust in our education system. Indeed, a recent OECD survey placed Ireland first among countries measured for public confidence in their education system. We are also opposed to the imposition of further pressure on the capacity of schools to provide a quality education service in the wake of several years of austerity cuts, none of which were reversed in this year’s budget.
Furthermore, it is clear that proposed changes to subject provision will have detrimental effects on the quality of education for students. Certain subjects such as CSPE, history and geography will be downgraded to optional status.
Such detrimental change will hinder the development of students as informed and active citizens. Sustainable and real educational reform requires teacher support and public confidence. We call on the Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan to engage with us on this basis. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP IRWIN,
President, ASTI,
Thomas McDonagh House,
Dublin 8;
GERRY QUINN,
President,
TUI,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.