Education must be at the heart of the Stormont executive's policy making, a gathering of teachers will hear today.
Gerry Murphy, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), is expected to tell its annual conference of a lobbying campaign "on a scale which is unprecedented" in the run-up to May's assembly election.
Addressing delegates and minister John O'Dowd in Templepatrick, Mr Murphy will say that INTO will rigorously campaign to place education at the top of politicians' agendas.
Speaking ahead of the conference, he said he would tell members this was the only way to secure more money for education.
It was confirmed this week that £10 million is to be cut from schools' annual budgets, which INTO warned would place huge strain on some principals during 2016/17.
"We need to get more money into the education budget. We need to protect our members, their jobs, their terms and conditions. We need to invest in our children who are the next generation of economic drivers. We need to invest in the future of society," Mr Murphy said.
"This opportunity lies in a concerted effort in the run-up to the assembly election on the part of all teaching unions to force education to the top of politicians' agenda.
"Our campaign will involve lobbying on a scale unprecedented in the north. Our goal is to ensure our campaign will dominate the election trail. Education must be at the centre of discussions at every household door in Northern Ireland."
Other key issues on today and Saturday's agenda include entitlements for substitute teachers such as sick pay, school governance and budgets.
Mr Murphy is also expected to reiterate the union's full support for a scheme to replace older staff with young, out-of-work teachers, while members will also discuss the rejection of the latest one per cent pay offer from employers.
"In relation to the Investing in Teaching Workforce scheme, I want to be clear. INTO supports this scheme. We want this scheme to run. We do not want 500 potential new jobs to be lost. That's not in anyone's interest," he said.
"The scheme doesn't provide employment for every teacher not in full time employment, but, for those teachers, we will continue to support them in their quest to find full time employment.
"In relation to teacher's pay, the one per cent pay offer currently on the table for teachers neither motivates or rewards. It is insulting and derisory. Pay restoration needs to become a reality and the focus of talks. Any pay offer which does not reflect the effort and work put in is a recipe for total chaos."
:: Newton Emerson's column yesterday incorrectly said the INTO was planning to strike next Friday. This is not the case and we regret any confusion.
