The ASTI has decided to withdraw from the current consultative review of the Junior Certificate examinations following an angry meeting of its executive council at the weekend.
The union, which is the largest second-level teachers union in the State, believes the consultation process is merely "cosmetic" and "contrary to the Minister's promises of openness and transparency", according to ASTI president, Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan.
There was "huge anger" at the meeting of its 18 executive members, in particular regarding a series of planned meetings around the State which has been organised by the Department of Education and Science as part of this consultative process, following publication of a discussion paper on the issue in September.
The list of schools which have been selected to attend and the timing of these meetings are "restrictive" and the whole process is being "fast-forwarded", according to O'Sullivan.
The six consultative meetings which are scheduled to take place during the day between 12.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. over the coming weeks should be "held in the evening when people with concerns could go and express them", she says. "Our main concern is the nature of the consultation; we don't feel that we were consulted in advance. It's fast-forwarded and the process implies such profound changes in the Junior Cert.
"Our fundamental concern and interest is to preserve and enhance the quality of education in our schools. It is crucial that the education service retains the confidence of the whole community and that it is seen to be impartial, objective and fair in its assessment procedures.
"The feeling among our members is that they are suffering from change fatigue," she adds. "At second level, the system is staggering under the weight of change."