Concerns have been raised about a shortfall in funding to tackle educational underachievement in Northern Ireland over the next year.
It comes after it emerged that just £2.5 million funding of an expected £21m had been allocated so far for 2023/24.
The Department of Education (DE) has blamed its "extremely challenging financial position" for the cut.
The figures were revealed in a progress report into the 'Fair Start’ report action plan, which was commissioned by DE to examine links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background.
The report shows that just £2.5m funding has been allocated to the project, despite £21m recommended by the expert panel behind the report.
SDLP education spokesperson Daniel McCrossan said it would be impossible to tackle educational underachievement without significant funding.
“While I acknowledge that some progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the report, the fact remains that unless the amount of money allocated to this project is drastically increased we will fail to properly tackle the issues emerging from the report and will miss an important opportunity to give each and every child the best chance of achieving their academic potential," he said.
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“The financial pressures at Stormont are disproportionally impacting our children and young people and after the work that went into this report to only allocate 8.4 per cent of the funding asked for is unbelievable.
"Any further delay on providing the funding required will only result in kicking this can down the road where it will undoubtedly become more expensive to make the changes necessary to tackle academic underachievement."
Connie Egan, Alliance education spokesperson, also said the report makes it clear that "the current budgetary situation will have a detrimental impact on implementing the recommendations set out in the Fair Start report".
Education cuts once again targeted at vulnerable children and young people. The Fair Start Report is our chance at addressing educational underachievement and giving the best start in life. This will have a devastating impact on our children’s futures. https://t.co/LyGXx5TZ41
— Connie Egan MLA (@connieegan94) July 26, 2023
“The expert panel recommended a budget of £21m in the second year of the implementation plan for 2023/4, instead the Department of Education has allocated a fraction of that, at £2.5 million," she said.
"This is extremely concerning and will directly impact vulnerable young people, already at risk of educational underachievement.
“The report highlights improvements to services such as early years and emotional health and well-being won't be implemented, as recommended, due to the enormity of funding cuts being made by the Department of Education.
“Once again our vulnerable children and young people are the ones paying the price for a lack of political leadership.”
