Next Tuesday’s planned strike by second-level teachers over junior cycle reform has been described as “disappointing and disproportionate’’ by Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan.

She urged the unions, the ASTI and the TUI, "to reconsider their position and re-engage in talks rather than proceeding with a strike that serves no one's interests''.

Ms O’Sullivan told the Dáil she had met with the unions five times since her appointment, three of which were solely to deal with issues relating to reform of the junior cycle.

She had agreed to Dr Padraig Travers chairing negotiations between the department and the unions, as well as the timeframe and terms of reference they had proposed.

She had presented a compromise proposal on November 10th, which included a State certificate for all students on completion of the junior cycle. Final exams in third year would account for 60 per cent of marks, to be set and marked by the State Examinations Commission.

Forty per cent would relate to other components to be assessed by classroom teachers, with agreed criteria and with the commission checking 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the marks to ensure consistency and fairness.

Those proposals were not acceptable to the unions, she said.

‘Row-back’

Fianna Fail education spokesman Charlie McConalogue said he had welcomed the Minster’s “row-back’’ on the issue.

He said he called for that previously, but former education minister Ruairí Quinn had not been in listening mode.

There were remaining issues, he added, relating to the 40 per cent of marks for school assessment and project work which needed to be discussed with teachers who had genuine concerns.

Mr McConalogue said the Minister should reopen talks and come to an agreement with the teachers.

Ms O’Sullivan said she listened to the concerns expressed and that was why she put forward her proposal. “Negotiation involves movement on both sides,’’ she said.

She said her “door was open’’ and she was willing to re-engage with the teachers.

Sinn Féin spokesman Jonathan O’Brien said the real block to resolving the problem was the proposed internal school assessment.

Ms O’Sullivan said there was information from other countries, as well as research data, that this was good for pupils.

“There is extensive guidance on how projects should be marked,’’ she said.

Independent TD and former teacher Finian McGrath said teachers grading their own pupils in State exams was not going to work.

Mr McGrath said the teacher’s role was to support, nurture and develop the pupil and there was a special relationship involved which the Minister was missing in the debate.