The Government has issued a statement to the effect that the exams will definitely go ahead with or without the teachers and are making alternative arrangements for this to happen. The Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to the contingency plan drawn up by Minister for Education, Dr. Michael Woods and advertisements are to be placed in the national media next week seeking the support of parents and others in applying for positions as exam supervisors. An ASTI spokesman agreed that such a job is not "rocket science" but was furious at the suggestion that non-teachers with no previous experience in exam halls might be used as supervisors. It is likely (but not yet decided) that ASTI may picket the exam centres if the Government proceeds with this plan.
The ASTI in half-page ads in the National papers on Wednesday states that the only way to resolve the dispute is by way of negotiation and they are available to meet with the Government at any time. "The teachers want to get back to the business of teaching - all it takes is a real offer to make this happen". Meanwhile a Government spokesman has stated that the Taoiseach had never seen any union reject the recommendations of every single independent forum set up to deal with pay claims, including the Labour Court, which he described as "the highest industrial relations body in the land".
The strike on Wednesday will be followed by further strike-days on Wednesday and Thursday 21st and 22nd March and a three-day stoppage the week after. The Union plans to continue this pattern right up to the exams.
On Wednesday school gates remained closed to students, many of whom are due to sit their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams in a few weeks and who are already under the normal pressure that preparing for such exams naturally causes. The fact that the teachers are now intent on preventing the students from sitting their exams, by refusing to supervise them and correct the papers, has led to huge public interest and reaction, with tv and radio programme phone-lines inundated with callers representing parents/students and the teachers.
