Second-level teachers have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over plans by to change the Junior Certificate exam.
In separate ballots, members of the ASTI and the TUI voted by 88% to 12% in favour of industrial action. The two unions represent approximately 27,000 second-level teachers.
Commenting on the ballot results ASTI General Secretary Pat King said "Teachers have always been willing to modernise the Junior Certificate and Junior Cycle education. However, they are not prepared to implement educationally unsound proposals which are being unilaterally imposed on them. Teachers believe the Minister’s proposals will undermine education standards".
"They are demanding genuine consultation on their concerns. The Minister has an opportunity to make sure this happens before industrial action begins to impact on schools" he added.
'Non-cooperation' with new framework
The TUI General-Secretary John MacGabhann commented "Our members value the high level of public trust in Ireland’s education system. Their vote for industrial action reflects a deep concern that the Minister’s proposals will impact negatively on the educational experience of young people and on the quality of the education system".
The Framework for Junior Cycle is due to come into effect from September.
The unions say the industrial action will be in the form of non-cooperation "with the introduction and implementation" of Framework for Junior Cycle proposals. This will begin on Monday April 7th.
It was announced back in January that the Junior Cert exam would be replaced by the JCSA - Junior Cycle Student Award.
In a statement, the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said "A working group on the JCSA, set up in January and made up of all the education partners, continues to meet regularly and is the appropriate forum to address any concerns and discuss proposals relating to the reformed Junior Cycle".
Earlier this month some 27,000 teachers held lunchtime protests across the country over their 'grave concerns' about the planned changes.
