Latest releases
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1,983 releases
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Givan launches enhanced support programme for newly qualified teachers
Education Minister Paul Givan launches an online induction platform and expanded programme offering learning modules, webinars and face-to-face courses for newly qualified teachers in Northern Ireland's schools, covering literacy, numeracy, SEN, behaviour and classroom practice.
Education Issue: Northern Ireland Teacher Induction Online Platform launch Original release: Givan launches enhanced support programme for newly qualified teachers (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan criticises Education Minister’s decision to deny four schools integrated status
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan criticises Education Minister Paul Givan's decision to deny integrated status to four schools, saying the DUP is preventing children from being educated together and that families will be dismayed.
Education Issue: Education Minister denies integrated status to four schools Original release: Sheehan criticises Education Minister’s decision to deny four schools integrated status (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows: Education Minister’s New teacher support programme must not add to workload
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the Education Minister's expanded induction support for newly qualified teachers, but says it must come with protected time, fully funded substitute cover and no added workload. He also calls for relief from bureaucracy and better…
Education Issue: Education Minister's enhanced support programme for newly qualified teachers Original release: Burrows: Education Minister’s New teacher support programme must not add to workload (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must engage with teachers over workload – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister to meet teachers and school leaders over workload and avert industrial action, saying a review's recommendations were diluted in the previous plan and teachers are exhausted.
Education Issue: Teacher workload review and industrial action threat Original release: Education Minister must engage with teachers over workload – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces that three post-primary school works projects, paused due to budget constraints, will move forward to planning and design. The schools are Belfast High School, Ballyclare High School and St Brigid's College, Londonderry, with capital investment…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Three post-primary school capital projects advance to planning and design Original release: Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to… (opens in a new tab)
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Zero Action on Teacher Workload - Carroll Backs Teachers' Strike Mandate
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll backs five teaching unions that have voted to strike over workload, and calls on Education Minister to implement the 27 recommendations of the 2025 workload review without delay.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher workload review and industrial action threat Original release: Zero Action on Teacher Workload - Carroll Backs Teachers' Strike Mandate (opens in a new tab)
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Teaching has become the art of doing the impossible, says Burrows
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges Education Minister Paul Givan to act urgently on teacher workload after five teaching unions backed industrial action in a ballot. He says teachers face too many duties and calls for a reassessment of workload expectations and reopening…
Education Issue: Teacher workload review and industrial action threat Original release: Teaching has become the art of doing the impossible, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Real integration must be about outcomes, not labels – Middleton
DUP MLA Julie Middleton says Sinn Féin and Alliance should engage with the evidence and Court of Appeal rulings on Education Minister Paul Givan's integrated education policy, arguing that reasonable numbers of both traditions are a legal requirement for transformation. She says only 2 of 33…
Education Issue: Integrated education transformation criteria and Court of Appeal ruling debate Original release: Real integration must be about outcomes, not labels – Middleton (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: A new way forward for integrated education
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan has published a Position Paper on integrated education to clarify the legal framework after a recent court judgment and transformation applications. It also introduces an Integrated Education Support Programme and plans a community background category.
Education Issue: Integrated education transformation criteria and Court of Appeal ruling debate Original release: Givan: A new way forward for integrated education (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister continues to show disregard for his legal duty around integrated education, says Guy
Alliance education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says the Department of Education's position paper on integrated education, published today, shows the Education Minister is ignoring his statutory obligation to promote and support integrated schooling.
Education Issue: Integrated education transformation criteria and Court of Appeal ruling debate Original release: Education Minister continues to show disregard for his legal duty around integrated education, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches consultation on legislating for mobile phone-free…
The DUP reports Education Minister Paul Givan has opened a 12-week consultation on possible legislation to back phone-free schools and issued stronger guidance saying pupils should not routinely have personal devices during the school day, citing a King's College London evaluation of a pilot.
Education Issue: Mobile Phone-Free Schools Pilot evaluation and phone-free schools consultation Original release: Givan launches consultation on legislating for mobile phone-free… (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls for urgent action so patients with Friedreich's Ataxia in the North can access Skyclarys, after the HSE approved its reimbursement in the South. She also urges an all-island approach to healthcare coordination and access to innovative treatments.
Health Disability and equality Issue: HSE approval of Skyclarys for Friedreich's Ataxia reimbursement Original release: Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Rebalancing student numbers will stop North West being ‘left out’
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood calls for the Executive to force universities to rebalance student numbers from Belfast to Derry, citing Belfast's near 60,000 students against Derry's 6,500, and urges delivery of the Magee expansion promised to the city.
Education Issue: Secretary of State Chris Bryant's Derry visit on North West university provision Original release: Eastwood: Rebalancing student numbers will stop North West being ‘left out’ (opens in a new tab)
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O'Hanlon pays tribute to Eithne Vallely
SDLP Armagh Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon expresses deep sadness at the death of Eithne Vallely, recalling her founding of the Armagh Pipers Club and her decades of teaching young musicians and promoting traditional Irish music.
Other Education Original release: O'Hanlon pays tribute to Eithne Vallely (opens in a new tab)
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Givan praises Northern Ireland students for impressive GCSE results
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan congratulates students on their GCSE results, noting 83.6% achieved grade C/4 and above and 31.7% grade A/7 and above, up slightly on 2025, and thanks teachers and school leaders.
Education Issue: Northern Ireland GCSE results 2026 Original release: Givan praises Northern Ireland students for impressive GCSE results (opens in a new tab)
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Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says families affected by sodium valproate deserve recognition, support and redress. She calls on the British Government to clarify its response to the Cumberlege Review and Hughes Report, and on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to gather data on those harmed.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Families need delivery, not warm words on childcare
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says the Department of Education’s NICSS figures hide the failure to deliver the promised 20% contribution increase from April 2026, urging the Executive to fund affordable childcare and give families certainty.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: NICSS 20% contribution increase delay Original release: McLaughlin: Families need delivery, not warm words on childcare (opens in a new tab)
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Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan condemns racist graffiti found in the Seapark area of Holywood, saying there is no place for hatred or racism in the community. She says Alliance will engage with police to have the graffiti removed and those responsible held to account.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti found in Seapark area of Holywood Original release: Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood calls on the Executive to step in and redistribute university places, citing Derry's roughly 6,500 students against nearly 60,000 in Belfast. He points to the review of a Derry medical school and the scrapping of a sports dome as evidence of commitments being rolled…
Education Issue: Ulster University review of Derry medical school plans Original release: Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy on victims’ payments is breathtaking – Brett
DUP MLA Phillip Brett says Sinn Fein is hypocritical for urging the Secretary of State to reopen the closed claims process for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, a programme the DUP helped create for innocent victims.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Fein request to reopen Troubles Disablement Payment scheme Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy on victims’ payments is breathtaking – Brett (opens in a new tab)