Teachers unions are staging a lunchtime protest today outside schools to demonstrate against the Minister for Education’s proposed changes to the Junior Certificate. The protest will take the form of a short rally, with similar demonstrations outside second-level schools across the State during school lunchtime breaks. The unions have said that regular school business will not be disrupted by the action and normal supervision arrangements will remain in place.

The Teacher Union’s position is that student achievement in the new junior cycle should be externally assessed and nationally certified. However, the Minister’s proposed reforms include the abolition of the traditional Junior Certificate exams and continuous assessment of students by their own teachers, for a new Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA), issued by schools.
The unions have also criticised the lack of resources to implement the changes, including inadequate technology.

However the Minister seems determined to forge ahead with the changes and has issued a formal departmental circular letter to schools setting out how and when the junior cycle changes will be introduced. The process of change is due to start with introduction of a new English syllabus for first years this September, while other changes will be phased in over a number of years.

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