Sir, - I am a student at Loreto Secondary School, Bray, studying for my Junior Certificate. My older sister is studying for her Leaving Certificate so the ASTI strike action is effecting us most severely.
So far we have missed nine school days this term. I cannot afford to be missing school days this year with my exams approaching. It is the students of third and sixth years who are losing out and it is time now for the Minister for Education to come to some agreement with ASTI so no more valuable school time is missed.
He has left it late enough already and has so far achieved nothing. I do not think asking him to talk is too much. I hope he can rectify the situation for the coming term, but as the days pass it is looking doubtful that any progress will be made to prevent disruption in the year 2001.
The second level students, especially those stuying for State examinations, all over Ireland are depending on the Minister for Education to take some positive step and this means talking to the teachers and coming to an agreement on a pay increase. As this dispute continues, I am becoming increasingly worried that our courses will not be completed and my grades will be effected. I appeal to Minister Woods to settle this dispute. - Yours, etc.,
Finola McEvoy, Glendalough, Co Wicklow.