NI school principals questioned on education funding pressures
30 October 2018
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee hears from primary and secondary school principals about funding and staffing pressures as part of its inquiry into Education Funding in Northern Ireland.
- Watch Parliament TV: Funding priorities in the 2018-19 budget: Education
- Inquiry: Education funding in Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 31 October in the Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
At 9.30am
- Deirdre Gillespie, Principal, St Mary's Grammar and President, Association of School and College Leaders NI
- Dr Graham Gault, Principal, Maghaberry Primary School and Secretary, Strategic Primary Principals Forum
- Jo McColgan, Principal, Ashfield Boys' High School
- Nigel Frith, Principal, Drumragh Integrated College
Purpose of the session
The session will focus on hearing real experiences of the funding challenges faced by schools in Northern Ireland and how they affect schools' ability to provide effective education for their pupils.
The inquiry
In 2018/19 funding for schools in Northern Ireland was set through the Northern Ireland Budget Act which was passed centrally at Westminster. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is examining the levels of funding for education and the spending priorities at the Department of Education NI.
In the first evidence session for the inquiry, the Education Authority told the Committee that schools in Northern Ireland have seen their spending power fall by £233m since 2011 leading to "financial difficulties" for many schools.
Further information
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