Latest releases
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45 releases
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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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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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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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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)
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Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed
UUP Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council decision to accept a 4% pay offer as fair. He calls for action on teacher workload and for a multi-year budget that keeps pace with inflation to give certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the agreement by unions securing a 4% pay award for teachers. He says pay alone will not ease workload pressures and declining morale, and calls for meaningful action on workload and proper investment in education.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council's acceptance of a 4% teacher pay offer, matching England and Wales, with graduate starting salaries rising to £32,916. He also commits to responding to the teacher workload review within weeks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay (opens in a new tab)
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Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the acceptance of the 2025/26 teacher pay offer by the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council, but calls on the Education Minister to set out how he will manage pay pressures and to act on workload and working conditions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Executive approval of the Education Minister's Ministerial Direction on the 2025/26 teachers' pay offer, and accuses Sinn Féin of using pay as leverage in budget talks. He calls for a fair pay outcome and says he looks forward to pay negotiators reconvening in…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip (opens in a new tab)
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‘Student bursaries welcome, but proper Irish Medium workforce plan needed’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes announced bursaries and grants to attract Irish Medium school teachers, but says a long-term workforce plan for the sector is still required. He says the party is bringing forward legislation to require the Department of Education to deliver one.
Education Issue: Initial Teacher Education bursary scheme for post-primary shortage subjects Original release: ‘Student bursaries welcome, but proper Irish Medium workforce plan needed’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Crawford Welcomes Pay Deal Between Department of Education and Teaching Staff
UUP MLA Colin Crawford, Education spokesperson, welcomes the Department of Education and Northern Ireland Teachers' Council agreement on a 5.5% pay deal for 2024/25, saying it will help retain and attract teachers and stabilise schools.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 5.5% teachers' pay offer Original release: Crawford Welcomes Pay Deal Between Department of Education and Teaching Staff (opens in a new tab)
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Teacher pay deal welcome but work starts now on meaningful delivery from minister on workload, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the teacher pay deal accepting a revised 5.5% offer for 2024/25, including an independent workload review, but says the Education Minister must now deliver promised changes on workload.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 5.5% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teacher pay deal welcome but work starts now on meaningful delivery from minister on workload, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister attends International Summit of the Teaching…
Education Minister Paul Givan reports on attending the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavík as part of the UK delegation. He says the summit allowed sharing of practice on equitable education and teacher well-being, and outlines his priorities including a…
Education Issue: International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavík Original release: Education Minister attends International Summit of the Teaching… (opens in a new tab)
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Hugely disappointing pay negotiations for teachers have broken down, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA says teacher pay talks with the Department of Education have broken down, warning children will suffer from action short of strike. He calls on both sides to return to the table, and urges the Department to rebuild…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher pay negotiations breakdown and action short of strike Original release: Hugely disappointing pay negotiations for teachers have broken down, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS NEED TO BE VALUED AND HEARD
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly reacts to a University of Ulster and Centre for Effective Services survey of 1,500 classroom assistants, calling for urgent attention and dedicated school funding to address undervaluing, underpayment and temporary contracts. She also points to challenging…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University report on Classroom Assistants in Northern Ireland Original release: BROLLY: CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS NEED TO BE VALUED AND HEARD (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes suspension of industrial action
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the unions' agreement to suspend next week's planned teacher industrial action, including Action Short of Strike, to allow pay talks to conclude. He says he is committed to securing funding for a formal pay offer and has asked Management Side to intensify…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teaching unions suspend planned industrial action over pay Original release: Givan welcomes suspension of industrial action (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister disappointed by unions pre-emptive action on…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan says he is disappointed that several teachers' unions plan to ballot members for strike action over 2024/25 pay. He points to the earlier settlement that ended the 2021-24 dispute and says any pay award must be affordable amid current financial pressures.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teachers' unions ballot over 2024/25 pay announcement Original release: Education Minister disappointed by unions pre-emptive action on… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes Unions’ agreement to EA Pay and Grading Review
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes confirmation from education support staff unions that they have accepted the Pay and Grading Agreement after consulting their members. He says the deal resolves a long-running dispute, benefits school support staff through significant pay investment, and…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Pay and Grading Review deal for school support staff Original release: Givan welcomes Unions’ agreement to EA Pay and Grading Review (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan welcomes pay deal for educational support staff
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the deal struck by trade unions and the Education Authority to put the Pay and Grading Review into effect, saying it delivers a fair wage for school support staff and shows constructive work by the finance and education ministers.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Pay and Grading Review deal for school support staff Original release: Sheehan welcomes pay deal for educational support staff (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes pay and grading agreement
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the agreement reached on the pay and grading review for school support workers, ending a long dispute that included industrial action last year. He stresses their importance in special schools and says fair pay is needed to aid recruitment…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Pay and Grading Review deal for school support staff Original release: Mathison welcomes pay and grading agreement (opens in a new tab)