Negotiations between post-primary teacher unions and Education Minister Helen McEntee regarding proposed changes to the Leaving Certificate examination system have concluded, with the outcome now heading to a membership vote.
Both major teaching unions—the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI)—will present the minister’s latest proposals on senior cycle reform to their members for consideration.
The talks were initiated to address concerns raised by teaching professionals about the planned overhaul of Ireland’s secondary school leaving examination. Details of the minister’s proposals have not been fully disclosed pending the union votes.
The Leaving Certificate reform has been a contentious issue in Irish education, with discussions focusing on assessment methods, curriculum changes, and the implications for both teachers’ workloads and student preparation for third-level education.
The upcoming votes by union members will be a crucial step in determining whether the government’s reform agenda for the Leaving Certificate can proceed with teacher support or if further negotiations will be necessary.
Neither union has indicated a timeline for when these membership votes will take place, though the outcome will likely have significant implications for the implementation schedule of any Leaving Certificate reforms.