Latest releases
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- Education: remove filter
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- Teachers and school staff
17 releases
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison, Strangford MLA, says the Education Minister's TransformED reforms are adding unsustainable workload for teachers during an industrial dispute, and calls for them not to be rushed ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Teacher Strike Ballot Delivers a Clear Message to Givan
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin says DUP Education Minister Paul Givan has provoked confrontation with teachers over workloads, pay and underfunding, and calls on him to address teachers' pressures. He also says Givan should have left his post and sends solidarity to teaching unions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher strike ballot announcement and Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Teacher Strike Ballot Delivers a Clear Message to Givan (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Potential strike action result of Minister’s refusal to listen to teachers
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says potential strike action by teachers over workload is a direct result of the Education Minister's refusal to listen to them. She calls on the Minister to meet teachers and unions and bring forward measures to reduce workload pressures.
Education Issue: Teachers' unions workload ballot over potential strike action Original release: Hunter: Potential strike action result of Minister’s refusal to listen to teachers (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Givan's Education Bill is a Trojan Horse Attack on Teachers
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the Education Minister's forthcoming bill as a Trojan horse that pairs religious education reform with a provision punishing teachers for lawful industrial action. He says he will oppose it in the Assembly debate.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's forthcoming Education Bill on religious education and industrial action Original release: Carroll: Givan's Education Bill is a Trojan Horse Attack on Teachers (opens in a new tab)
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Inspections Bill an attempt to undermine teachers’ workers’ rights- Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the Education Inspections Bill, ahead of its second stage debate, attacks teachers' employment rights and undermines lawful industrial action, and says the party will oppose it. He calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to drop the proposals and focus on teacher…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Inspections Bill second stage debate Original release: Inspections Bill an attempt to undermine teachers’ workers’ rights- Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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DUP failing to support teachers and address workload – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker accuses the DUP of neglecting teacher workload after DCU and St Mary's research found 9 in 10 teachers experiencing work-related burnout. He blames Education Minister Paul Givan's surveys, consultations and reform agenda for adding pressure and calls for action.
Education Issue: Research on teacher burnout and workload in Northern Ireland Original release: DUP failing to support teachers and address workload – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should shelve ‘harmful’ reform agenda and restore confidence of school leaders – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the crisis facing school leaders is the Education Minister's making after the NAHT entered a trade dispute. He calls on the minister to shelve his reform agenda and work directly with principals on workload concerns.
Education Issue: NAHT trade dispute over school leaders' workload Original release: Education Minister should shelve ‘harmful’ reform agenda and restore confidence of school leaders – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: GIVAN MUST ADDRESS TEACHER WORKLOAD CONCERNS
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls on the Department of Education to shift from confrontation to collaboration and take action on teacher workload, following the Independent Review of Teacher Workload. She criticises the Education Minister's legal action over industrial action as adversarial.
Education Issue: Independent Review of Teacher Workload publication Original release: BROLLY: GIVAN MUST ADDRESS TEACHER WORKLOAD CONCERNS (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter condemns Minister's "reckless solo run"
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA criticises Education Minister Paul Givan for moving to restrict lawful union activity without consultation, and urges Executive colleagues to halt what she calls reckless solo decisions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister's proposals restricting teacher union activity Original release: Hunter condemns Minister's "reckless solo run" (opens in a new tab)
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Classroom Assistants deal falls woefully short
TUV candidate Lorna Smyth says a DUP-backed pay offer for school support workers excludes most classroom assistants, since it only applies to those working 30+ hours a week. She disputes the Education Minister's estimate of 20,000 beneficiaries and notes the offer covers only this year.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Classroom assistants pay offer for school support workers Original release: Classroom Assistants deal falls woefully short (opens in a new tab)
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Disappointing to see non-teaching staff overlooked, says Mathison after resources not found for pay and grading review
Alliance's education spokesperson Nick Mathison, MLA for Strangford, says it is disappointing that the Finance Minister has not allocated funding for the pay and grading review affecting non-teaching school staff. He argues the money is needed for special schools and urges the Education Minister…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Budget omits funding for non-teaching staff pay and grading review Original release: Disappointing to see non-teaching staff overlooked, says Mathison after resources not found for pay and grading review (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of needs-based funding at heart of industrial action: Dodds
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds says the lack of needs‑based funding in Northern Ireland is why education staff have missed pay rises for three years and why the Education Authority faces a £200 million overspend, and calls for sustainable funding to ensure fair pay.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority £200 million overspend forecast Original release: Lack of needs-based funding at heart of industrial action: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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O'Lynn and Egan hit out at Education Authority after substitute teachers again left without pay
Alliance MLA Patricia O'Lynn and Education spokesperson Connie Egan criticise the Education Authority after substitute teachers went unpaid again, citing problems with the NISTR supply teacher register. They call for the EA and Department of Education to urgently fix the system and ensure full…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Substitute teacher pay delays linked to new booking system Original release: O'Lynn and Egan hit out at Education Authority after substitute teachers again left without pay (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan questions ongoing problems with sub teachers register
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan questions continuing problems with the Northern Ireland Supply Teacher Register after the Education Authority closed phone lines due to high demand. He says he has asked the EA about the backlog, timescale and reasons for the closure, and calls for…
Education Issue: Northern Ireland Supply Teacher Register (NISTR) launch problems and phone line closure Original release: McCrossan questions ongoing problems with sub teachers register (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan expresses concerns over problems with new sub teacher register
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan warns that performance problems with the Education Authority's new substitute teacher register could leave schools struggling to recruit cover and teachers unable to register. He urges the EA to resolve the technical faults quickly.
Education Issue: Education Authority substitute teacher register performance problems Original release: McCrossan expresses concerns over problems with new sub teacher register (opens in a new tab)
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“We need common sense and compassion in the midst of the ongoing crisis within Education.” - Gemma Brolly
Aontú education spokeswoman Gemma Brolly criticises the Education Minister's warning to teachers that industrial action could breach contracts, and calls on the minister to value school staff and prioritise education funding amid school deficits and SEN pressures.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Minister warning teachers over industrial action and contract breach Original release: “We need common sense and compassion in the midst of the ongoing crisis within Education.” - Gemma Brolly (opens in a new tab)