Community and comprehensive schools say they are frustrated with the slow progress on junior cycle reform.
It comes as the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools prepare to hold their annual convention in Galway today.
They say the directive from the teaching unions prohibiting participation in in-service training and new learning programmes has been a backwards step for their schools.
To date, unions have been unable to agree a compromise with the Department of Education, which has led to two strike days.
General Secretary of the Association Eileen Salmon is urging them to find a solution:
Earlier this month the Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan told Newstalk Lunchtime that she was willing to sign up to proposals put forward by Dr Pauric Travers but that teachers and unions have looked for further negotiations.
Responding to that set of proposals, TUI President Gerry Quinn said they cannot put the current plan to a ballot, saying "what we need is a situation whereby we can have confidence in a convincing set of proposals that teachers could actually support".
The proposals included a recommendation that the junior cycle would be split into two parts - with one marked by the State Exams Commission and the other by teachers.
Minister O'Sullivan said she is "open to the unions revising their decision" - but that she will press ahead with the changes:
