Teachers to stage protest on thursday

Second-level teachers throughout County Meath will protest outside their schools at lunchtime this Thursday, 7th May. They say student class time will not be affected by the protest.

Teachers' union the ASTI said the protest aims to highlight the need to maintain independent assessment of student attainment at junior cycle. It involves members of the ASTI and the TUI. Up to 27,000 second-level teachers across the country will participate.

Brian Burke, ASTI representative for Meath and a teacher at St Ciaran’s Community School in Kells, said: “Teachers fully support a move away from excessive reliance on written exams and want to see more focus in schools on practical, portfolio, and project work.

'However, we want to maintain independent, external assessment in order to protect standards, equity, quality and fairness. Anything less has the potential to seriously undermine junior cycle education and to widen inequalities between students and schools. We cannot take this risk with our young people.'

 Mr Burke said they appreciated the support they have received from parents and the community during the campaign.