Minister for Education Mary O'Rourke launches a new information booklet published by the National Council in Curriculum and Assessment for pupils and parents on the new state examination.
The Junior Certificate will replace the Intermediate (Inter) Cert and the first sitting of the exam is due to take place in June 1992. Minister O'Rourke says that sample papers will be distributed to schools next week.
Not everyone is happy with the new exam. The teacher's unions have been highly critical of the planning for the Junior Cert but are cooperating with it. There are still some concerns amongst teachers around in-service training and teacher assessment. Unions have warned that if these issues are not addressed then they will withdraw their cooperation.
Reporter Lorna Donlon speaks to Joe Whyte Vice President of ASTI and Billy Fitzpatrick President of the TUI about their concerns. Minister O'Rourke feels that these issues will be addressed and that the Junior Cert is a great improvement on what came before.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 September 1991. The reporter is Lorna Donlon.
