Joint TUI/ASTI press statement
Following intensive discussions between union representatives and the Department of Education and Skills, an agreement on time and resources for the implementation of the new Junior Cycle was reached last week.
This agreement, together with the Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation which was agreed last May, will be balloted on by teachers in September.
The executive bodies of both unions will meet in late August to further discuss the respective ballots.’
Full background information, including new appendix document on teachers' time and workload
Junior Cycle proposals – What you need to know
On May 22nd the TUI Executive Committee and ASTI Central Executive Council (CEC) decided (at separate meetings) that the latest Junior Cycle proposals form the basis for a ballot of members. These proposals are contained in the document Junior Cycle Reform: Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation. Click here to download
Included in this Joint Statement were commitments to:
- Publish a revised edition of the Framework for Junior Cycle.
- Hold discussions on how the various time/workload implications of the Framework for Junior Cycle and the Junior Cycle Reform: Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation will be addressed.
The Department has advised that it will shortly provide a revised edition of the Framework for Junior Cycle.
Time /Workload implications
On Wednesday, July 8th the Department of Education and Skills, the TUI and ASTI signed off an Appendix to Junior Cycle Reform: Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation. This Appendix (click here to download) sets out the time and workload implications for teachers and how they will be addressed.
Teachers’ workload
The Appendix:
- identifies the categories of additional professional time that will be required from implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle.
- proposes 40-minute class periods for all schools.
- identifies the time required for Subject Learning and Assessment Review meetings of subject teachers.
- states that, with effect from September 2017, the class contact time for all full-time teachers with Junior Cycle classes will be reduced from 33 (40 minute) periods to 32 (40 minute) periods – i.e. a maximum class contact time each week of 21 hours and 20 minutes rather than 22 hours.
- provides for a pro-rata reduction in class contact time for part-time teachers.
- provides for the allocation of additional paid substitution hours to schools in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 school years in order to phase in the timetable changes for English, Science and Business teachers.
Ballot on new Junior Cycle reform proposals
TUI’s Executive Committee will meet in late August to discuss the ballot of TUI members on the revised Junior Cycle proposals.
Click here to view Appendix to Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation: Professional Time to Support Implementation.
Click here to view Junior Cycle Reform: Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation.
Click here to read Junior Cycle – Significant Achievements by TUI/ASTI.