School leaders in Northern Ireland have received alarming news regarding imminent budget cuts that threaten the quality of education. In a letter addressed to all schools, Ronnie Armour, the head of the Department of Education (DE), outlined the necessity for “painful cuts” as the education sector grapples with a shortfall of approximately £250 million.
Armour’s communication reinforced an earlier directive to school heads to limit hiring new staff and to curtail the use of substitute teachers. “It is essential that you take these measures and any other measures available to you as you work to reduce your in-year expenditure further,” he stated. The letter emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the significant financial challenges facing the sector.
The principal of St Paul’s Primary and Nursery School in west Belfast, Sean McNamee, expressed his concerns about the practicality of implementing such measures. “You can’t buy less toilet roll, you can’t not buy soap and paper towels,” he noted, pointing out the constraints schools face. He elaborated that reducing staffing levels is the primary way to save money, but this poses a dilemma as schools are pressured to maintain their current staff despite the lack of funding.
McNamee also indicated the difficulty in restricting the use of substitute teachers. “If you’ve the right level of staffing and a teacher goes off sick, you can’t not bring in a sub,” he said, underlining the essential nature of maintaining adequate teaching resources.
The head of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) in Northern Ireland, Dr Graham Gault, echoed these sentiments, stating that school leaders have already taken every possible measure to contain costs. “There is nothing left to cut without reducing essential services for children,” he told BBC News NI. He further emphasized that schools are operating on the edge, with staffing, resources, and support reduced to the minimum. “Any further reductions will compromise safety, wellbeing, and learning,” he cautioned.
Concerns have been raised about the broader implications of the budget cuts. Paul Givan, the Education Minister, criticized a proposed multi-year budget by Finance Minister John O’Dowd, warning that it could lead to “devastating cuts.” He mentioned potential measures such as withdrawing school transport and cutting funding to key organizations like the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). These cuts could severely impact educational support services, including Sure Start and youth services.
In contrast, Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister, has urged executive ministers to work collaboratively to agree on a multi-year budget. She criticized the funding provided from London as “inadequate” and acknowledged the tough decisions that all ministers must face.
Adding to the financial strain, teachers in Northern Ireland were granted a 4% pay rise for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a decision that is expected to cost the DE around £38 million for that year, with annual costs rising to approximately £65 million thereafter. Dr Gault stressed the need for the executive to prioritize education and allocate necessary funding to protect the future of children. “Asking schools to absorb a £250 million shortfall by cutting even deeper is unrealistic and irresponsible,” he stated.
The situation remains precarious as schools navigate these financial challenges. Stakeholders are calling for immediate action to ensure that educational standards do not decline further, emphasizing the critical need for adequate funding and support in the sector.
