THE leaders of seven bodies representing schools and the four main churches in Northern Ireland have joined forces to share their "significant concerns about the impact of the current crisis in education funding".
They have written a joint letter to the secretary of state and the head of the civil service, warning that funding cuts will "negatively impact the quality of education of every child and young person".
The Education Authority (EA) wrote to principals and board of governors this week urging them to help "further reduce expenditure" after the NIO refused to back down on the budget 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. But the EA this week said it could not support the £110 million of cuts required.
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".
The letter sent to Mr Heaton-Harris and Jayne Brady is signed by Gerry Campbell, Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Mark Baker, Controlled Schools Support Council, Roisin Marshall, NI Council for Integrated Education as well as Maria Thomasson from Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and the Catholic Schools' Trustee Service Fintan Murphy.
Nuala O'Neill, Governing Bodies Association, which represents many grammars and Dr Andrew Brown, Transferor Representatives' Council - which represents the three main Protestant churches - also signed.
They state: "We would be failing the children and young people of Northern Ireland if we did not share our significant concerns about the impact of the current crisis in education funding. Without question, reduction in funding and ongoing under investment will negatively impact the quality of education of every child and young person living in NI.
"This is inequitable, as the funding for our children and young people is already significantly lower than that received by those in other regions."
The letter states that less money is spent on each child's education in Northern Ireland than in England, Scotland or Wales and they ask: "why is the education of a young person in NI valued less".
They also say schools have told them that "unless this under investment is addressed, it will be impossible to continue to provide our children and young people with an education that ensures they have the best start in life".
"There is now a need for an urgent meeting involving everyone with a concern for the future of our children and young people," they said.
"The focus must be on the restoration of education funding to levels that can fully support the needs of schools and ensure children have the best start in life."
