Sir, - I am greatly shocked by the current events surrounding the teacher's pay dispute. I, like many of my fellow students, thought with great relief, that the dispute was on the path to resolution. But unfortunately this seems not to be the case.
Once again our futures are being held to ransom. Our orals and practicals are scheduled to begin in just over a month. But will they? This uncertainty for Leaving Certificate students only adds undue pressure - the bane of a student's life. The possibility of attending a third-level institution in the autumn is hanging in the balance. For many others, the Leaving Cert is the key to an apprenticeship, the means by which they will earn their income.
I implore all those involved to resolve this dispute quickly with as little disruption to the students as possible. There are only 15 weeks left; the pressure is building, the stresses are increasing and the worries mounting. Please do not add to our despair by threatening the exams which we have spent six years of our lives working towards. It is a burden we can do without. - Yours, etc.,
Nicola Holland, Holywell, Dundrum, Dublin 14.