There isn’t enough money in the pot, therefore teachers in Northern Ireland have been informed there won’t be a rise in pay this year.

The announcement follows a meeting in which the Education Authority (EA) and the Department of Education emphasized the financial challenges that the education sector will face in the upcoming year.

The meeting, which featured Dr. Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education, Barry Mulholland, Chairperson of the Board of the Education Authority, and other EA board members, featured more warnings about the £300 million funding gap that will exist in 2023–2024 and brought attention to the serious financial issues that are currently affecting education in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this year, school administrators from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) participated in strike action alongside members of all five major teaching unions over the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions for the first time in the union’s 125-year history. The fury was stoked by a series of additional cuts to essential programs.

“I continue to be acutely aware of the substantial obstacles confronting the educational system concerning the present economic climate, continuous labor disputes, insufficient funding for school buildings, and the growing enrollment of students with special education needs,” Dr. Browne stated.

We won’t be able to stay within our current budget in 2023–24 due to a funding gap of about £300 million, even with some really tough choices.

“This is an unacceptable stance. Due compensation is a just reward for the exceptional work that our teachers and staff perform under extremely trying conditions.

Read More: https://theeducationview.com/