The Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) decided on Friday to recommend that members accept the negotiated Junior Cycle proposals in an upcoming ballot while the ASTI on saturday also decided to ballot members but with no recommendation to it's members.

In a statement the TUI said that ‘the Executive Committee of the TUI has comprehensively analysed the proposals and consider that they meet and allay the deep concerns expressed by teachers both in terms of assessment of students and the time and resources required by teachers and schools to implement the proposed new Junior Cycle programme.’ Crucially, the proposals secure and enhance the externally assessed Junior Certificate.’

‘Significant concerns about additional bureaucracy have been adequately addressed. Responsibility for the administration and assessment of the Junior Certificate will remain with the State Examinations Commission and will not be foisted on schools.’
Ballot papers will be posted from TUI head office on September 9th and the ballot will close on September 23rd.

The central executive of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) met on Saturday and has decided to put the latest Junior Cycle proposals to a ballot of members. According to the Independent.ie, a move by the ASTI leadership to recommend a Yes vote was defeated at a meeting of its 180-member central executive at the weekend - and the package will go to ballot of its 18,000 members with no recommendation.

Speaking on Saturday, ASTI President Máire G. Ní Chiarba thanked teachers for their commitment to providing all students with a fair, equitable and quality second-level education: “The Junior Cycle campaign demonstrates the power of a united and persistent teaching profession standing up for education.”

She continued: “It is now up to teachers to examine these proposals to decide if they are a basis for commencing implementation of the revised Junior Cycle.”

The ballot will take place in September with the result expected on Thursday, September 24th. The ASTI represents 18,000 second-level teachers.

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