TEACHERS UNIONS MET with the Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan today to tell her they had “serious concerns” about the proposed new Junior Cycle.

The delegations from both second-level unions said that while the initial meeting was “positive” they would be continuing their “fight for maintenance of standards, transparency, quality and equity”.

Junior Cycle

They said that “any new version of the Junior Cycle must include a national certificate based on external assessment”.

The unions said:

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.

Speaking about the meeting today, the minister said that she would “reflect on the concerns which were raised by teacher representatives” adding that she would consider what different forms of engagement might be considered to facilitate an overall agreement between the two sides.”

The minister and teachers’ unions are due to meet again in mid-October.

The unions said they 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 schools.

Read: Majority of teachers say schools won’t be able to cope with new Junior Cycle>

Read: Teachers to hold “symbolic” lunchtime protests over new Junior Cycle>