CLOSING OF SCHOOLS MUST STOP

PRESS STATEMENTThe National Student Executive (NSE) of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) regretfully confirms again that second-level schools will be closed today (January 22nd) due to industrial action by the ASTI and TUI. This is the second day of industrial action to be taken in relation to the proposed Junior Certificate Reforms (JCSA) and with mock examinations due to take place shortly nationwide, this action will undoubtedly have an affect on students and their studies.Speaking this morning, Joanna Siewierska ISSU Education Officer, said;“I respect the teacher unions and their concerns in relation to the Junior Certificate reforms. However, as a Leaving Certificate student I am only ten days away from sitting my mock exams. This second day of strike action is disrupting mine and my fellow students’ education at a very crucial and important point in time. It is adding unnecessary confusion to the JCSA discussion and it is equally unfair to all students in second-level school. The closing of secondary schools needs to stop. Again, we respectfully ask teachers to return to talks with the Minister for Education and Skills”.Craig McHugh, ISSU President, added;"I am extremely disappointed that the striking teacher unions have failed to reach consensus on these reforms and that a second day of strike action is taking place. The JCSA reforms are focused on building a more relevant, fair, engaging and progressive second-level education system. Focus needs to return to the Junior Certificate Reform in its entirety and conversations need to happen between the relevant education stakeholders. Our education is being affected by this. This is not fair on students".***ENDS***Notes to editor:The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has engaged with Junior Cycle reform discussions and consultations since 2011, and our stance on supporting this reform has been mandated by three annual assemblies, our internal advisory panels and nationwide student focus groups.Contact ISSU Main Office 01 443 4461 / communications@issu.ie

STUDENTS SCAPEGOATED... again

Press Statement

ISSU speaks out in opposition to using students as pawns in industrial dispute

Teachers are often too slow to embrace significant change, and on this occasion they have brought reasonable talks to a deadlock due to a failure to adapt. Teachers correct hundreds of school-based assessments for individual subject exams or indeed for in-house Christmas and summer exams. We would recommend that the anonymity attached to exam numbers provided by the State Examinations Commission be maintained, and that teachers swap exam scripts within the same school to address concerns over bias. This change is needed and we need to move with it.Joanna Siewierska, ISSU Education Officer, said “We are lucky to have some of the most dedicated and committed teachers teaching us, but once again industrial action on this scale during school hours means that students are being used as pawns in what ultimately is an industrial dispute not solely concerning educational reform. My teachers correct my Christmas and summer exams during the school year and when it comes to the award of the new JCSA, why is correcting these papers any different? We respectably ask teachers to refrain from industrial action in this manner and return to talks with the Minister for Education and Skills”.*** ENDS *** Contact: 01-443 4461 / communications@issu.ie 

Second-Level Students' Union Calls for Further Talks to Avert Strike Action

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) has today called on the Government and ASTI representatives to re-enter negotiations and exhaust every possible avenue in order to avoid the occurrence of industrial action.The ISSU believes that at some stage an agreement will be reached, and it is in everyone’s interests, especially students, that this is done before any industrial action affects schools.ISSU President, Mark Caffrey, said; “One way or another, a resolution will be reached at some point.  Therefore we are calling on Government and ASTI representatives to enter further negotiations as soon as possible so that this can be reached before industrial action affects our schools.“If we reach a stage where ASTI members enter into industrial action, there will obviously be a negative impact on students in affected schools.  This could cause great upset to some students, and we know from talking to students that they will already be worried about how industrial action could ultimately affect their exam results.  Nobody wins if there is industrial action, and we want to see this matter resolved without any impact on students.”Education Officer for the ISSU, Robert O’ Donnell expressed his concern the cloud of industrial action will have on exam students in particular; “As education officer and as a second-level student I am very concerned by the threat of industrial action. It will have would have a big impact, especially on 6th year students who heavily rely on teachers the most on schools. Education has never been so important in this country and the classrooms need teachers in them giving students the education they need.”

Students will suffer the most: “Tread softly because you tread on my dreams”

Irish Second-Level Students’ UnionISSU PRESS STATEMENT 23/02/10ISSU is disappointed to hear of the recent announcement made by the second-level teaching unions with regard to taking their industrial action to the next level.  Speaking this evening a representative from ISSU, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union, said that “The quality of our teaching staff is the foundation stone of our education system and is the envy of most other European countries. Teachers play a crucial role in shaping our future and ultimately the future of our country, however the current moratorium is impacting severely on the smooth operation of schools. Teachers who hold posts of responsibility play vital roles in supporting students on a day-to-day basis and more often than not are in more contact with students, as they still have timetabled teaching hours.‘A-post’ holders are respected figures in schools, providing guidance, support and advice to students when they need it most. Typically these are form/year heads or exam coordinators. ‘B-post’ holders fill the gaps of creativity, teamwork and personal development of students - the putty that repairs the cracks in our out-dated syllabi. Typically these are teachers who manage an incredible array of extra-curricular activities from sports to chess to craft clubs…. the list is endless!It is indeed unfair to expect teachers to provide this additional student support structure without the proper remuneration – we call on the Minister for Education and Science to include this as an exception to the moratorium to ensure the smooth running of schools before students suffer as school operations grind under the pressure of a severe lack of resources. As industrial action increases in an attempt to reverse the infamous tsunami of education cuts in 2008, we implore the Minister to sit down with the teaching unions and come to some sort of arrangement before it’s too late. ‘Tread softly because you tread on my dreams’ ”.