Lunchtime schools protest planned next week

Second level teachers in local schools will participate in a lunchtime protest outside their schools next Thursday, May 7, as part of their ongoing opposition to proposals to reform the Junior Cycle.

Teachers are particularly opposed to proposals that they would assess their own students' work as part of the new Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA). This they say will undermine standards, equity and fairness.

Thursday's protest is being organised by second-level teacher unions the ASTI and the TUI.

Up to 27,000 second-level teachers all over the country will participate in the protest.

Already the teachers have held two strike days closing more than 730 secondary schools across the country, affecting more than 333,000 students.