A DOZEN post-primary schools needed emergency funding in March to pay teachers, the Education Authority's outgoing chief executive has said.
Gavin Boyd, who leaves the role this week to be succeeded by Sara Long, said education was in a "financial crisis".
He warned of "ongoing teacher redundancies", subject choice being "restricted" and increased class sizes at primary level.
"I'm also seeing in very large schools – some voluntary grammar schools and grant-maintained integrated schools – real pressures," he told the BBC.
"We're having to step in this year in up to a dozen schools that needed our help so they could pay salaries in the month of March."
Established in 2015, the Education Authority is responsible for spending most of the north's annual £2bn education budget.
On the lack of a functioning Stormont executive, Mr Boyd said a minister is needed to take decisions to transform the education system.
