Northern Ireland

Union will 'not stand by and watch the destruction of our schools and support services' amid crippling budget cuts

NIPSA is the latest union to voice its criticism of demands on schools to find more ways to save money
NIPSA is the latest union to voice its criticism of demands on schools to find more ways to save money NIPSA is the latest union to voice its criticism of demands on schools to find more ways to save money

A TRADE union has warned it will "not stand by and watch the destruction of our schools and support services" amid crippling budget cuts.

NIPSA, which represents non-teaching staff, is the latest union to voice criticism of the demands placed on schools across Northern Ireland to find more ways to save money.

It comes after the Education Authority (EA) wrote to principals and board of governors to urge them to help "further reduce expenditure" after a new budget for government departments was set by the secretary of state.

Chris Heaton-Harris had warned that the current spending trajectory would have to be curtailed and it would affect the block grant of the EA, which is responsible for the day-to-day funding of schools and school services in the north.

But the EA this week said it could not support the £110 million of cuts required by the secretary of state's budget.

A reduced plan to save £43m was rejected at a board meeting on Tuesday, with members saying the proposal "could not adequately deliver many core front-line and support services".

Alan Law, NIPSA assistant secretary, last night said "education has been turned into a political football".

"NIPSA welcomes the decision by the Education Authority board to refuse to endorse savings plans which would have starved special educational needs of millions of pounds which are vital to support of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society," he said.

"It was a political choice by the secretary of state to refuse to protect the special educational needs budget.

"It is disgusting that education has been turned into a political football with no consideration to the damage and harm being done.

"The planned budget cuts would also have seen school meals, transport, SEN, maintenance, and a range of other vital services starved of staff and resources.

"The EA has now written to school leaders and governors asking them to examine any expenditure plans and to not engage new contracts for staff or services. It is intolerable that schools are being placed in this invidious position.

"They are already at breaking point and are now expected to do with even less."

Mr Law added: "NIPSA and our sister unions across the education sector will not stand by and watch the destruction of our schools and support services at the behest of a Tory secretary of state; it is already a matter of record that education funding in Northern Ireland is the lowest of the four countries within the UK at £6,400 per pupil compared to £6,700 per pupil in England.

"Our members cannot and will not take on additional work to cover gaps created by a failure to recruit staff."

The NIO has said "with no Executive in place, the secretary of state had no choice but to deliver a budget".