The Department of Education has said it is determined to keep schools open despite the threat by the ASTI to withdraw from supervision/substitution duties.
The Department is planning to provide funds to school managers to allow them recruit parents and other non-teachers if the ASTI votes to ban work involving supervision/substitution. Some teachers remain angry that the £27 per hour offer for this work is not pensionable, but the Department may be flexible on this issue, say sources - only if the ASTI commits itself to supervision and substitution work permanently.
It is understood the Department is determined that schools will function normally in the event of an ASTI ban. The offer, which is not being put to ballot by ASTI, will be made available to others if teachers vote for a ban.
School managers are likely to be asked to recruit non-teachers, although they are strongly opposed to this idea at present. The issue of pensionability was raised during last week's negotiations between the Department and teaching unions. The Department took the view that payments could not be pensionable as supervision and substitution is done on a voluntary basis by teachers.
Last April, the Report of the Commission of Public Service Pensions said the general rule in the public service is that allowances are pensionable if "they are permanent and form a compulsory condition of service". It is understood the Department of Education may be ready to examine the report to see if it provides any way out of the impasse. But it is thought the Department of Finance is determined to face down the ASTI.
Meanwhile, students have warned they will organise protests around the State if classes are cancelled because of the dispute.
If the ASTI members vote to impose a ban, schools could face disruption within three weeks. Yesterday the ASTI released the wording of the question being put to members: "Do you agree to withdraw from voluntary supervision and substitution following a directive from standing committee to be issued in accordance with the outcome of the ballot?"