University places for student teachers in Northern Ireland have been cut.
The Department of Education said there will be 13 fewer places for prospective teachers for courses beginning in September.
It said the cut "was made in light of the current service-wide budgetary context".
The reduction will mean that this year will see the lowest number of university places for new student teachers in around a decade.
Figures show that there are 567 new places for student teachers this year, down from 580 places in 2022/23.
Teaching qualifications and education degrees are offered at Stranmillis University College, St Mary's University College, Queen's University and Ulster University.
The universities are funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE), but the number of student teachers admitted to courses are set by the Department of Education.
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It is believed the QUB and UU will admit fewer postgraduate students aiming to become teachers as a result.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the decision to cut university places would "heap further pressures on schools".
“We have a manufactured shortage of teaching student places and teaching jobs due to the underfunding of our education system," he said.
"Ultimately it is our school pupils who suffer.
“All evidence suggests we need to drastically improve the teacher to pupil ratio in our classrooms to ensure the best education for our young people.
“The Department of Education’s decision to cut places for new student teachers is shortsighted and will heap further pressures on schools in the long run.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Education told the BBC that the 2023 cut in student teacher numbers "was made in light of the current service-wide budgetary context and was agreed by DfE".
"Institutions may, however, recruit additional students on a 'fee-only' basis," the spokesperson said.
"Analytical evidence also indicates a future oversupply of newly qualified teachers in NI due to falling teacher demand (notwithstanding some anecdotal evidence of a shortage of teachers in certain post-primary subjects), which will continue to be a consideration in the decision-making process and within the context of wider strategic workforce planning."
