Efforts to end the row over Junior Cert reform resume today.
Talks are due to take place between the Minister for Education and the two unions representing secondary school teachers.
Last week, 27,000 members of the TUI and ASTI held a day long strike, in protest at changes to the junior cycle. Around 350,000 secondary school students were forced to stay at home as their teachers took to the picket lines for a second time.
The Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan says she has already moved on the issue of teachers marking their own students exams for the Junior Cycle, with the requirement now down to 40 percent, rather than the 100 percent intially proposed.
However, unions say there is still some distance between the sides.
Dr Pauric Travers will again chair the talks between the Minister and the unions.
The ASTI and TUI say they'll hold further industrial action in coming weeks if there's no breakthrough.
Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning and said that she's hopeful progress will be made in the dispute today:
She said she is still hopeful of a breakthrough:
