As secondary school pupils prepare to return to school next week, the Minister for Education has warned the ASTI not to issue directives to its members over the introduction of the new Junior Cert science syllabus.
Mr Dempsey said secondary schools were told earlier this year that they had the option of introducing the new course according to their resources. He said the department accepted that a number of schools, needing a "major capital investment" would be unable to implement the course immediately.
Speaking on RTE Radio this afternoon, Mr Dempsey said grants were available to around 700 schools needing relatively minor upgrading of their science facilities. He said according to a Department survey around 250 schools needing minor work could secure a €3,500 grant, while some 400 schools could apply for an enhanced grant of around €8,000.
However, the ASTI has claimed the introduction of the new syllabus without the provision of adequate supports and resources has serious health and safety implications for second level schools.
The union plans to issue a directive to its members next week not to implement the new course. But Mr Dempsey responded today that it seemed only a small group of members at executive level were involved in this proposal and he was unsure whether they were speaking for the majority of teachers.
He said while teachers he had met, across the unions, did express concern about the introduction of the new course, few if any felt that it should not be put in place.
The Labour Party today accused the Minister of "railroading" the new syllabus through the education system.
Deputy Ms Jan O'Sullivan said the course was being introduced in the absence of adequate resources and without support from many teachers.
She said that under the new syllabus students would be required to take a hands-on approach to science experiments, but many would not be able to because of a lack of resources.
"Minister Dempsey should ensure now that the resources are allocated to provide for the teaching of this new syllabus and ensure he has the confidence of teachers to carry it through," she added.
Schools have until the end of October to decide whether they will take the new or old course.