We’ll strike again

A NORTHSIDE teacher has warned of further strike action in his union’s ongoing dispute with the Department of Education and Skills over its proposals for the reformed Junior Cycle programme.

Ed Byrne, vice president of the Association of School Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), and a teacher at Colaiste Choilm, Swords, was speaking following a protest held during lunch hour at his school last Thursday (May 7).

The lunchtime protest involved approximately 27,000 second-level teachers at schools around the country, although it did not affect students’ class time.

The protests followed two one-day strikes held by members of ASTI and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) on December 2, 2014 and January 22, 2015.

Mr Byrne said the Department of Education and Skills and successive Ministers have proposed to introduce a reformed Junior Cycle programme that does not have the confidence of the teachers.

“This is due to poor consultation and a very questionable assessment model that is neither equitable, objective or fair,

? he said.

Mr Byrne said the ASTI would require the Department and Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, to return to the elements of the current Junior Cert that

“work well and are not broken

?.

“This entails an externally assessed Junior Cycle run by the well functioning State Examinations Commission (SEC),

? he told Northside People.

“If this can be achieved then other issues, such as over-reliance on a final exam can be sorted.

“That we will not assess our own students for certification purposes is one of principle and can not be broken down into percentages.

?

Dr Padraic Travers chaired marathon talks between the unions and the department earlier this year.

He proposed splitting the new Junior Cycle Certificate in two: one part would be marked by the SEC through the traditional exam format; the other would come from teacher assessments carried out in second and third year.

Mr Byrne said Dr Travers’ proposals must be seen as a staging post rather than a destination.

“Personally, if the Minister (O’Sullivan) continues to see these proposals as a solution then I believe we remain poles apart,

? he stated.

Mr Byrne said his members have

“certainly been mandated for a third day of strike (action)

?.

“I do see it going ahead but not in the current academic year,

? he added.

“At this time of year we are conscious of our exam students and do not wish to add weight to their heavy load.

“If, however, this situation is not resolved by the new school year (2015-2016), then I do believe we will see further industrial action.

?

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Skills said negotiation will always require some flexibility on both sides.

“Minister O’Sullivan has been very clear on the need for several elements of change, and has moved considerably to address teachers’ concerns,

? she told Northside People.

“She has accepted Dr Pauric Travers’ revised and clarified proposals of February 23 as the basis for agreement on the implementation of Junior Cycle reform.

“Under these proposals, teachers are now no longer being asked to assess their own students for State certification purposes.

“This addresses the unions’ stated core objection to the previous reform proposals.

?

The spokeswoman said the State Examinations Commission cannot provide information about the considerable range of skills and abilities that

“we want to encourage and reward in our young people

?.

“The reformed dual approach to assessment at Junior Cycle will give a more balanced view of students’ achievements,

? she argued.

“The Department is concerned that the unions are impeding members’ access to professional development opportunities, given that the unions have specifically highlighted members’ requests for such development opportunities.

?

The spokeswoman said the scheduled Junior Cycle training will continue to be rolled out.

“However, the Minister stated her belief that agreement is within closer reach than at any point over the last few years, and with a little more effort on both sides, she hopes to close the remaining gap in the near future,

? she added.