Sir, – In "Teachers boycott training as junior cycle protest escalates" (April 13th), Joe Humphreys writes, "the ASTI and TUI are obstructing the reforms until the department removes a plan to have teachers assess their own students in skills such as communications and problem solving as part of the new programme".
Teachers are not opposed to assessment of their own pupils. Formative assessment for learning in the form of class tests, correcting homework and higher-order questioning continues in schools across the country. The unions oppose the end of external, fair and objective assessment for certification, which the Department of Education has proposed. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD TERRY,
Fermoy,
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Co Cork.