Secondary School teachers will be balloted in January on a new deal aimed at ending their dispute with the Government.

The ASTI’s Central Executive Council has recommended that members reject the proposal put forward by the Department of Education.

It includes gradual pay increases for new teachers and an opt-out clause for supervision and substitution duties.

Strike action will be deferred until the outcome of the January ballot is known.

General Secretary of the ASTI is Kieran Christie: “Well we are a responsible trade union and obviously we would like to see aboslutely minimal in fact no disruption to the ongoing work in any school.

“So obviously we are in the business of seeking solutions and we will continue to pursue that course.”