Latest releases
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- Teachers and school staff
107 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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Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll backs teachers and school leaders in industrial action, urging Education Minister Paul Givan to deliver a funded plan cutting workload instead of seeking more time on the workload review's 27 proposals.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher workload industrial action and Independent Teacher Workload Review implementation Original release: Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to present a credible plan that reduces teacher workload, saying teachers have warned for years and should not need industrial action to be heard.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – 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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Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges Education Minister Paul Givan to return to talks and agree a time-bound plan to implement the Independent Review of Workload in full, ahead of teachers' action short of strike from 28 September.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes (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 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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 28 September 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 19 September 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 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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Violence against teachers is a taboo we can no longer afford to ignore
UUP Leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges the Education Minister to adopt an injury‑reduction plan for schools, citing 598 teachers and 1,974 classroom assistants assaulted last year, and calls for better training, support and parental respect.
Education Issue: Assaults on teachers and classroom assistants Original release: Violence against teachers is a taboo we can no longer afford to ignore (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows warns teacher burnout crisis unsustainable after report finds 91% affected
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA says a report finding 91% of NI teachers face burnout is unsurprising and calls for better support, pay and accreditation for classroom assistants. He says he is writing to the Education Authority to press for streamlining of weekly information…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher burnout report finding 91% of NI teachers affected Original release: Burrows warns teacher burnout crisis unsustainable after report finds 91% affected (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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Cuireann Sheehan fáilte roimh an dul chun cinn ar Bhille um Ghaelscolaíocht
Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Sheehan welcomes the Irish Medium Education workforce bill passing its second stage in the Assembly. He says it will require the Department of Education to plan for the sector's staffing needs, and accuses the DUP and others of trying to obstruct progress.
Education Issue: Irish Medium Education workforce bill second stage in Assembly Original release: Cuireann Sheehan fáilte roimh an dul chun cinn ar Bhille um Ghaelscolaíocht (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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Mathison expresses solidarity with school leaders following dispute with department
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison, who also chairs Stormont's Education Committee, expresses solidarity with school leaders after the NAHT declared an official dispute with the Department over unresolved workload pressures. He urges the Education Minister to meet head teachers and find…
Education Issue: NAHT trade dispute over school leaders' workload Original release: Mathison expresses solidarity with school leaders following dispute with department (opens in a new tab)