Unions representing second-level teachers will meet Department of Education officials this afternoon for the first in a series of meetings to discuss their concerns around Senior Cycle reform.
The talks come as teachers prepare to debate and vote on motions calling for non-cooperation and deferral of changes which will see all Leaving Certificate subjects revamped in the coming years, starting next September with subjects including the science subjects.
The changes are aimed at introducing a far greater level of non-exam based assessment in all subjects.
However, teachers say they are being introduced too hastily and without proper safeguards around Artificial Intelligence.
They also say many schools are not equipped to deal with the changes.
The issue is set to be a major debating point when teacher members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and Teachers' Union of Ireland meet for their annual conferences next week.
"With AI, teachers are concerned about how they will authenticate students' work," ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie said.
This is among a number of the union’s concerns.
"We think it is being rushed. There has been limited training for teachers and in our view that training is inadequate. There are deficits all over the place in terms too of facilities and resources."
Speaking of the first tranche of subjects due to be introduced this September, Mr Christie said: "Science teachers are adamant that they are not ready for this major change."
Of the talks that will begin this afternoon, he said: "We will try and secure as many new supports and resources as we can get.
"We will see how we will get on this week and we will report to convention."
It is possible that a number of motions on the topic, due to be debated and voted on next week, may be superseded by developments during these talks over the coming week.
"We might be in a position where events will overtake those motions," Mr Christie added.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland said it would continue to insist that education standards and fairness for all students are maintained in any redevelopment of the Leaving Cert programme.
The union's General Secretary Michael Gillespie said: "We have asked for a wide range of resources and measures to ensure that the programme is fit for purpose and if these are not met, we would have serious concerns about the successful implementation of the redeveloped programme."
