The Head of the Teachers Union of Ireland says an escalation of the dispute between teachers sand the Department of Education “is clearly in prospect”.

General Secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland John McGabhann says his members are opposed to any form of classroom assessment and secondary school teachers may well go on strike after talks again broke down on reforming the Junior Cycle.

“I do expect that given the mandate that we have at the moment then escalation is clearly in prospect,” Mr McGabhann said.

Teachers rejected new proposals that included a final exam in third year - accounting for 60 per cent of junior cycle marks to be marked externally.

Minister Jan O'Sullivan said under the proposals, classroom teachers would only be responsible for 40 percent of the marks, with the State Exams Commission responsible for marking the rest.

She restated her commitment to reforming the exams.

"These are extensive changes designed to retain the progressive elements of reform while addressing concerns expressed by the teaching profession. It is regrettable that the second-level teaching unions have failed to engage positively with the proposal," Ms O'Sullivan said.

"I am convinced that the framework I put forward at these talks will result in a better educational experience for students at second level, while also respecting the concerns of teachers regarding reform."

"I am still willing to engage with teaching unions on this reformed framework. However, the breakdown of these talks will not scupper the much-needed reform of the junior cycle. Over the coming weeks I will be looking at how that agenda is advanced and I would ask the second-level teaching unions to re-engage on what is a fair basis for agreement," she added.