Serious Concerns Raised Over Budget For Schools

Serious concerns have been raised after it was announced that schools in Northern Ireland will not receive any additional money to fund other pressures they may face.

The SDLP has called for an urgent meeting with the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Education to clarify what can be done to better support the education service.

MLA Colin McGrath MLA said: "Despite the fact that schools struggled to stay within their restrictive budgets in this financial year, they have now been told that this budget will not fund the additional pressures that are facing schools in 2018-19.

"Principals and teachers have already made the case loud and clear that their schools cannot shoulder any more cuts. Budgetary pressures are already placing a strain on schools and classrooms across the North and will impact upon our children and young people.

"What is crystal clear to the SDLP is that decisions relating to our budget should be made here in Belfast not by British Ministers in London – those responsible for preventing locally elected politicians from working to deliver for local people are failing our schools and our young people."

(CD)