Education minister says NI teacher pay rise ‘simply impossible’.

Union demands for a pay rise for teachers in Northern Ireland are “simply impossible”, the education minister says.

Paul Gavin told assembly members that teaching unions had called for a 13.5 per cent rise in 2024-25.

Gavin also told the assembly that education officials have formally asked unions to “stand down” the ongoing strike ballot.

But one of the biggest unions, the NASUWT, told BBC News NI it would “not take our ballot back.”

Responding to a question from Alliance Assembly member Danny Donnelly, Gavin said Northern Ireland unions’ pay claims This is “significantly higher” than the 5.5% increase for teachers in England.

“As per the requirements of public sector salary policy, any proposal for teacher salary award should be affordable,” he said.

“This is proving difficult to address given the pressures already being faced within education budgets.”

Questioned later by his Democratic Unionist Party colleague Diane Dodds, Gavin said the department would also have to meet the 5.5% increase. £20 million less.

“The teacher pay claim is not for 5.5%, it’s for 13.5%,” he said.

“It’s simply impossible if members believe the department can raise 13.5% this year.”

“It’s not attainable.”

“I am working in good faith with the unions to find a successful resolution to this issue.”

Reacting to the education minister’s comments, NASUWT national officer Justin McCamphill said: “Teachers in Northern Ireland are not ready to be the lowest paid teachers in the islands.

“The minister needs to secure enough money to offer teachers an acceptable salary to prevent industrial action.

“NASUWT will not withdraw our ballot until an acceptable offer has been made and accepted by our members.”

Gavin, however, also told MLAs that “hundreds of millions” of pounds were also needed to build and maintain school buildings.

The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) said recently Schools were “deteriorating” and many needed “major repairs.”.

“I can only do what is done with the budget available to me,” the minister said.

“There hasn’t been funding for years to go to the school state.

“There is a backlog of hundreds of millions of pounds.

“There is a program of work between new builds, school enhancements, and what we need for special education over the next ten years, which will come in the region of £3bn.

“If we’re serious about our school property, we need to be serious about allocating funds to the Department of Education.”