EXTRA money for education is unlikely to have any impact in classrooms, principals have warned.
Northern Ireland's budget for 2017/18, which was published last week, shows an increase in education spending of 1.5 per cent.
Debts are soaring with schools predicted to be millions in the red in the next three years.
The overall education budget, announced in July, is £24m less than the closing 2016/17 budget.
An additional £10m was found, but schools and education bodies are still being forced to make savings. The extra money came from the reallocation of cash across Stormont departments, but heads say they are yet to see a penny.
Now, Paul McClenaghan of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said schools were facing the worst budget crisis in 40 years.
He was speaking following a meeting of principals in Holy Family PS in Derry.
Mr McClenaghan said concerns were raised that the 1.5 per cent increase in education spending within the budget would not benefit schools.
"Whilst in principle NAHT welcomes the increase, we are highly concerned that the 1.5 per cent increase merely constitutes a reframing of the budget and will not have an impact on the cuts which schools are being forced to make," he said.
"Despite announcements by the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, of additional funds for education in July and October, schools have not received any additional resources."
He said school budget reductions resulted in a cut of at least £61 per pupil in primary, £83 in nursery and £25 for post primary pupils.
"What these budget reductions equate to in practical terms are staff cuts, larger class sizes, and cut backs in support for children with additional needs. As a consequence, further pressure is placed on parents to subsidise resources," Mr McClenaghan added.
"Essential school maintenance and refurbishment of buildings to meet the growing demand of the school population has become impossible. Schools are unable to plan to meet the future needs of their pupil population."
INTO northern secretary, Gerry Murphy said the 1.5 per cent increase was another cut "given inflation is running at almost 4 per cent and coming as it does on the foot of a 9 per cent overall reduction in the education budget since 2010/11".
"The education system in the north now finds itself in dire straits. 80 per cent of our schools will find themselves in a negative financial situation at the end of this financial year," he warned.
"We will quickly now begin to see a rapid increase in class sizes. In addition services necessary to support the learning delivered by a shrinking, overworked teaching profession, will be reduced further."
