Efforts will be made again next week to avoid a second strike by secondary school teachers in January.

Talks are expected to take place between the Minister for Education and the teaching unions in a bid to reach agreement on reforming the Junior Cert.

Teachers from the ASTI and TUI downed tools earlier this month in a one-day strike after previous discussions broke down over plans for teachers to correct part of their own students work.

Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has previously stated that she cannot give any more ground in the negotiations.

The row centres on Department of Education plans to overhaul the Junior Cycle, which would involve teachers assessing a portion of their own students exams.

Teachers rejected new proposals that included a final exam in third year - accounting for 60% of Junior Cycle marks to be marked externally.

Last week's strike affected 350,000 students across the 730 post-primary schools in the country.

These teachers in Stillorgan in Dublin told Newstalk why they went on strike: