THE MARKING of practical exam work in subjects such as construction studies and engineering may take place during term time this year - unlike last year, when projects were corrected in June. The Department is to meet with representatives of the TUI this week to discuss the matter.

The union says last year's projects, which were marked when students and teachers had departed schools, were vulnerable to vandalism and caused problems for schools with regard to security and storage.

The TUI wants the Department to revert to the former practice of term-time correcting. "No major crises occurred last year," says Rose Malone of the TUI. "But we don't want to be asking for trouble this year.

According to a Department spokesman, "our engineering inspectors do not accept that work was vulnerable"; however, he confirmed this week's meeting with the TUI on the issue.