The State Examinations Commission has issued a reminder that schools will have a second opportunity in April to take part in classroom-based assessments in the subject of English that are part of the new reformed Junior Cycle programme.
Junior Certificate students in around two thirds of second-level schools are not participating in the assessments because of teacher union the ASTI's continued opposition to teachers assessing their own students as part of formal State tests.
ASTI members reasserted their non cooperation in ballot results that were published yesterday.
Minister for Education Richard Bruton has said that Junior Certificate students who do not complete the assessment task will be docked 10% of their overall mark in the subject of English.
In the new Junior Cycle English result, written State exams will comprise 90% of the overall mark, with the classroom-based assessment intended to make up the final 10%.
Both marks will be added together to create a student 'Profile of Achievement' in the subject.
This is the first year that students are being tested in this way.
Neither the State Examinations Commission nor the Department of Education have data on how many students are taking part or not taking part in the classroom assessments.
However in general the testing is not taking place in schools where significant numbers of staff are ASTI members.
At least some schools with joint TUI/ASTI memberships are affected.
Almost 70% of schools were closed by recent strike action by the ASTI so the number of schools not participating in these assessments could be as high as that.
Most schools where most teachers are members of the Teacher's Union of Ireland are carrying out the assessments.
These schools are primarily in the ETB or Education and Training Board sector.
The State Examinations Commission said that the integrity of the examinations and equity for all students were among its core principles.
It said it noted that concerns had been raised that some Junior Cycle students may not have opportunities to complete all elements of the Junior Certificate final exam in the subject.
