The chairman of the Government's Task Force on Science, Dr Danny O'Hare, has signalled his unease with the ASTI ban on the new Junior Cert science course, writes Sean Flynn, Education Editor.
Dr O'Hare told The Irish Times yesterday that those schools which have good laboratory facilities should proceed with the new course without delay. The ASTI position, he said, did not represent a way forward for science education in the State.
ASTI has directed that all science teachers should refuse to teach the new course until all laboratories are updated. Under the directive, even those schools equipped with the most modern facilities are unable to teach the new course.
ASTI says it wants to see the task force report, which recommended major investment in updating school laboratories, implemented.
But last night Dr O'Hare said ASTI's decision to ban the new course until science facilities in every school were upgraded was unrealistic given the current pressures on the public purse.
"If we were to wait until everything was perfect we would be waiting a very long time. Those schools in a position to teach this exciting new course should do so. For the others, ASTI should give the Government a reasonable timeframe to allow progress to be achieved," he said.
Dr O'Hare also said schools with outdated labs should open discussions with local third-level colleges with a view to using their science facilities.
He expressed regret that the current standoff between the Government and the ASTI was delaying the implementation of a very dynamic new course, which could help to revive falling student interest in science.
This weekend the ASTI executive voted unanimously to keep the ban in place, despite a threat from the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, that they risked investigation for a breach of the national pay deal. Mr Dempsey will this week ask the teachers' conciliation council to investigate whether there has been a breach of the national pay deal .
Teachers will receive a total of 21 per cent from the national pay deal and benchmarking, but Mr Dempsey says this is linked to progress on modernisation and changes in the curricula. ASTI says it is not in breach of the agreement as it is motivated solely by health and safety concerns for pupils, teachers and school staff.