Secondary teachers have decided not to implement a new inspection system for schools until there is a "satisfactory resolution" to their 30 per cent special pay claim.
At a special convention in Dublin, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) deferred a decision on the inspection system - Whole School Evaluation (WSE) - pending a satisfactory outcome on pay. Their claim was rejected by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in a speech to the Dail last week.
A statement from the union after Saturday's meeting said: "Members expressed their belief that they could not be involved in the introduction of a new development in the education sphere until their justifiable demand for a special pay claim is addressed."
Speaking after the meeting, the general secretary of ASTI, Mr Charlie Lennon, said Mr Ahern's comments had "greatly angered many teachers" and this was expressed by many delegates.
While the media were not admitted to the conference, it is understood many delegates expressed reservations about WSE, which will involve Department of Education inspectors visiting schools and entering classrooms.
Several delegates called for tight rules to govern the visits of the inspectors. Despite the concerns, a presentation by the deputy general secretary of the ASTI, Mr John White, in which he said WSE was likely to be implemented as part of a general move towards accountability in society, was reported to be well received.
Most of the morning session of the conference, attended by about 500 delegates, was dominated by the pay issue. The union's statement said: "Strong support was expressed for the pay campaign and members were informed that the ASTI standing committee will be meeting next week to prepare a strategy."
The union recently said this year's Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations were unlikely to be affected by industrial action. Sources have suggested industrial action is not likely to occur until the next school year.
The circular requesting schools to introduce WSE is currently before the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods. It is unclear whether the circular will now be sent to schools with two of the teachers unions - ASTI and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) - refusing to give their support at this stage.
WSE involves inspectors evaluating the overall performance of a school. It does not involve inspectors evaluating the work of individual teachers.