Latest releases
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313 releases
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Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises a further rise in school meal costs, saying working families are bearing the impact of Executive dysfunction and the lack of a Budget. He questions the cost gap with England and calls for procurement transparency.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan condemns latest reports of sinister threats to schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan condemns recent threats reported at schools this morning, saying they have caused anxiety for parents, pupils and staff. He calls for those responsible to be held accountable and urges the PSNI and Education Authority to work with affected schools on clear information and…
Education Justice and policing Issue: Threats reported at schools in Northern Ireland, November 2026 Original release: Sheehan condemns latest reports of sinister threats to schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months
UUP South Antrim Assembly candidate Liz Clarke urges an immediate halt to the January school dinner price rise, which follows the Education Authority's second increase in about a year, and wants the full costings behind its £5.28 per-meal figure published. She also calls for a review of the free…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children!
Aontú calls on the Education Minister, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to halt proposed education cuts, including a further £20 million in reductions, and to reverse changes to SEN transport and school meal charges. The party also urges restoring school programme funding…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority further £20 million education cuts announcement Original release: STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Children and families of St Columba’s deserve to be heard – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson presents a 6,160-signature petition to the Assembly to save St Columba's Primary School in Newbuildings, and urges the Education Authority and Department to examine all alternatives before any closure decision.
Education Issue: St Columba's Primary School, Newbuildings closure proposal Original release: Children and families of St Columba’s deserve to be heard – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
SF MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to make Relationships and Sex Education suitable for each developmental stage, grounded in research and responsive to young people's needs, following a recent Assembly debate. She argues it helps pupils spot abuse, understand consent and challenge…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of the Assembly debate on the Education Committee's report into RSE, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected. She asks the Education Minister to clarify withdrawal rights…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents” (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Education Minister Paul Givan's TransformED reform plans would add exam pressure, cut coursework and narrow the curriculum, and calls on him to rethink them and stop avoiding academic selection.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer in schools amid high energy costs, linking it to cuts and crumbling school buildings. She raised the issue at a Derry City and Strabane council committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority "wear more clothes" energy cost advice to schools Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become
UUP Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA criticises Education Authority advice telling pupils and staff to "wear more clothes" over rising energy costs, calling for the guidance to be revised for pupils with sensory needs and for the Department to engage with the Education Committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority "wear more clothes" energy cost advice to schools Original release: Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for…
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces a new Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme for Primary 6 and 7 pupils, with up to £600,000 for schools in 2026/27 and expressions of interest open until 1 October.
Education Issue: Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme launch Original release: Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA calls for clear answers from Education Minister Paul Givan on a proposed £30,000 allocation for a football pitch at Richhill AFC, questioning changed departmental advice after the minister's visit and asking the Education Committee to investigate.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £30,000 funding allocation for Richhill AFC football pitch Original release: Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says a new Queen's University Belfast report shows academic selection harms children and the education system, and blames successive DUP Education Ministers for ignoring the evidence. He calls for a fairer post-primary transfer system.
Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast report on academic selection and post-primary transfer Original release: Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken MLA warns that repeated delays to EU-UK reset talks, with the timetable slipping from July to October and now late November, leave agribusiness and manufacturing firms without needed certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: EU-UK reset talks timetable delayed again to late November Original release: Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for the education debate to shift from the transfer test to tackling brain drain and creating properly funded vocational pathways into apprenticeships, while defending parents' right to choose a child's school.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Falling reading standards demand more books and fewer screens says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says reversing falling reading standards, after PISA results showed Northern Ireland's average reading score dropping over the past decade, needs more reading, less screen time, early-years support and less bureaucracy for teachers.
Education Issue: PISA results showing decline in Northern Ireland reading scores Original release: Falling reading standards demand more books and fewer screens says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 20 September 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Funding model is failing rural communities where schools are the glue holding everything together, says Burrows
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA warns that the Department of Education's latest school funding announcement risks accelerating the decline of rural schools. He calls for shared education campuses, such as Ballycastle, to be replicated by unlocking dormant capital…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education school funding announcement July 2026 Original release: Funding model is failing rural communities where schools are the glue holding everything together, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)