The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has announced that approximately 21,000 of its members will be excluded from new promotional posts aimed at assisting students with the Leaving Certificate reforms. The new roles, which will offer additional allowances between €4,700 and €10,600, are part of a Government initiative to support the redevelopment of the senior cycle and the Level One and Level Two learning programmes. ASTI has expressed concerns about the implications of artificial intelligence on student assessments, particularly regarding the authenticity of work submitted by students. Teachers fear they could face legal action if they question the validity of students' assessments that may involve AI. Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton acknowledged the presence of AI in education and emphasized its ethical use, while also announcing the establishment of an external advisory taskforce on AI in schools. ASTI president Padraig Curley criticized the exclusion of his members from the new posts, calling it provocative and a violation of public service agreements, which could deny students in ASTI-staffed schools access to essential educational supports.