At the inaugural meeting of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Group yesterday, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) met with senior Department of Education and Youth officials to advance the agreed dedicated support measures.
The substantive meeting of almost three hours discussed a range of issues including plans for notifying schools of the revised usage of Croke Park hours agreed to by TUI members; SEC guidelines on academic integrity, including safeguards for teachers in light of AI and other developments; the one year Contract of Indefinite Duration; continuing support for the LCVP modules; granting more time for consideration of implementation issues relating to English and Accounting in Tranche 2; rollout of the bonus marks for Irish in the Leaving Certificate Examinations and progressing proposals for further widening TY access.
These critical measures all arise from the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Support Implementation Measure document that TUI members recently approved. The TUI made clear to the Department that measures set out in the negotiated document balloted upon and accepted by the union’s membership must be progressed as a matter of urgency.
These elements are considered essential to ensure the delivery of a well-supported Senior Cycle.
TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said that ‘our members voted to accept the negotiated document on Senior Cycle support measures in good faith, and we are now insisting that the resourcing measures are delivered in a timely manner.’
The Department of Education and Youth officials undertook to advance a number of the key matters discussed as a priority and it was agreed a second meeting of the group would take place in early July.
These matters reflect the core guarantees secured during negotiations and endorsed by TUI members. The union will continue to engage robustly in the implementation process to ensure full delivery of all commitments.