Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a major expansion of the early career teacher induction programme for the 2025/26 academic year.

The move marks a key milestone in the Department of Education’s TransformED Strategy, which aims to strengthen professional learning and support for teachers across Northern Ireland.

The expanded programme, which is being coordinated by the Education Authority (EA), will include a comprehensive blend of online and face-to-face training sessions for newly qualified teachers. Key areas of focus will include Special Educational Needs (SEN), literacy, numeracy, behaviour management, and the science of learning. The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) will also deliver a series of improvement-focused sessions for new teachers.

The Minister said a high-quality induction programme is essential to ensuring that our newest teachers enter the profession with the confidence and support they need to succeed. "This enhanced programme will help our early career teachers to set high expectations, and it will support them to plan and deliver well-structured lessons, adapt their teaching to meet the needs of all learners, and use assessment effectively to inform practice," Mr Givan said.

He also stated that the 2025/26 programme is just the first stage, with plans to build on this foundation with a bespoke online training course and further professional development opportunities in the coming years.

Teacher tutors will also benefit from increased support and resources as part of the new roll-out. The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) will lead an evaluation of the programme, with feedback from schools playing a central role in informing future developments.

The Minister concluded by expressing his appreciation to all school leaders, teacher tutors, and practitioners for their dedication, saying their support is vital to the success of the education system.