The head of the ASTI, says the teaching union is taking a principled stance on not grading a continuous assessment portion of the new Junior Cert English paper.

It emerged yesterday that students could lose 10% of their Junior Cert English grade if they’re taught by ASTI members. 

The union is refusing to accept Junior Cert reforms, that would see teachers mark the continuous assessment aspect of their own students’ exams. 

ASTI President Ed Byrne has defended their decision. “What we have always said is that it is a principle stance.

“We don’t assess our own students.

“It is not where it starts out, it is where it would end.

“That is the issue we have. It would be to deny one of the great strengths of the Irish education system, the exam system.

“ The SEC State examination commission are highly respected, they do great work every year.”