Delegations from both second-level unions attended an initial joint meeting with the new Minister for Education and Skills on the issue of the proposed changes to the Junior Cycle this morning.
Today’s meeting was positive in that the Minister gave unions the opportunity to outline teachers’ key concerns. We stated to the Minister that we will continue to fight for the maintenance of standards, transparency, quality and equity. Any new version of the Junior Cycle must include a national certificate based on external assessment.
There are very serious concerns over the capacity at system, school and individual levels to meet the demands of such significant change in a resource-starved environment.
Further engagement with the Minister on this matter is expected in mid-October and we will be insisting that any change can only be implemented in a way that protects the integrity of the education system and also the young people in our schools.