Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has issued another plea to teachers to call off a planned strike for next week.
Secondary school teachers are due to walk out on Thursday, January 22, in an ongoing row about plans to reform the Junior Cert.
Teachers' unions are due to hold new talks with the Department of Education later this week.
Minister O'Sullivan says she is determined to overhaul the Junior Cert one way or another.
"Certainly my intention is that I want to see this reform implemented," she said.
"I want to see it in place in the schools, I think it's the right thing to do, and we have support from other partners.
"But I do take these talks seriously, and I hope that we will be able to make progress."