Second-level teachers will be strongly advised this week to stop giving classes outside school hours to exam pupils who are trying to make up time lost during the dispute.
Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) will be told that helping pupils during ordinary class time to catch up is acceptable, but giving them extra classes is a form of strike-breaking.
Many schools are giving classes after school and at weekends so students can make up the 10 days lost since mid-November, when the ASTI action began.
As reported in The Irish Times last month, some schools are also planning to cancel PE and religion classes and use the time for exam subjects.
The ASTI general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, yesterday said he was working on the text of a letter to be sent to the union's school stewards soon.
He said ASTI members were angry because teachers were being asked to give classes outside normal hours due to a dispute they believed the Government could have solved months ago.
The letter will strongly advise ASTI members not to get involved in extra classes. But Mr Lennon said individual members would have to consider their own position on the issue.
At an ASTI weekend meeting, he said some members wanted him to issue a directive to the membership on the issue, but because this would require a ballot, an advisory letter would be issued instead.
According to teachers and principals, schools in close competition with each other are the most likely to offer extra classes. "If the other school starts offering extra classes, then you feel you must respond to that," one principal said yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Labour Court continues to work on a solution to the dispute. The ASTI is expected to be called before the court again this week, following a tough session with officials last week.
Media reports of peace hopes being "dashed" were described as "wildly inaccurate" by the ASTI and Government sources. The Labour Court is not expected to issue a recommendation until next month.
Submissions to it so far have been predictable, with both sides reiterating their previous stances.
Meanwhile, the ASTI vice-president, Ms Catherine Fitzpatrick, has become favourite to win the union presidency. Almost 40 branches have nominated her for the post, compared to three for challenger Ms Patricia Roe.
Four candidates are going forward for vice-president, with Mr P.J. Sheehy from Co Wexford ahead at present with 12 nominations.