Proposals to radically reform the Junior Cycle need to be postponed until after cuts to education in Ireland have been reversed.

This is according to the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, which stated such changes cannot be sustained with the second-level system in its current weakened state.

In a letter to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, general secretary of the union Pat King said concern among teachers about the impact of the reforms has grown now the Budget has revealed staff numbers are to be cut in each of the next two years.

He continued: "To implement such complex and significant reform at a time when all second-level schools are overstretched and many are near breaking point would be damaging for students, schools and the second-level education service."

Mr King therefore called on the minister to reverse the most savage of the cuts in order to proceed with the changes.

Proposed reforms for the Junior Cycle include capping the number of subjects studied by pupils at eight and a greater focus on continual assessment rather than exams.

Written by Donal Walsh

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