Local councillor Denise Johnston says several people have contacted her regarding safety concerns
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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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SDLP MLA Cara Hunter
East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has raised concerns over school funding and has claimed that most schools could be in a financial deficit by the end of the year.
Ms Hunter said:
“The news today from the Education Authority that 80% of our schools are set to be in financial deficit by the end of the year is a shocking indictment on the management of our schools. Our school workers, including classroom assistants, bus drivers and canteen staff, are already in dire need of increased pay and even without increases forthcoming, more than half of our schools are operating in the red.
“We have been hearing for more than two years that our education system is in crisis and the news today from the EA further confirms the scale of the crisis facing our schools.
“Our school leaders do a remarkable job in providing great education despite the immense pressures facing them, but we must recognise that the wheels are soon to fall off without immediate intervention.
“Having spoken with countless parents, teachers and school leaders, I am acutely aware of the stress placed on staff and the impact that this is having on teaching and learning. I am calling on the Minister of Education today to enter into urgent talks with the British government to secure immediate funding to ensure our schools are able to excel.
“To build a healthy, thriving society, it is essential to have a school system that functions and to ensure a first class education system we need the funds to support this. It is time for the Executive to take the wellbeing and futures of our young people seriously and act to avert a serious crisis.”
Over three-quarters of schools in the North are expected to be in the red this year if they do not receive more funding. Schools in the North have already been in financial deficit from the end of March 2024.
This information was provided to the board of the Education Authority (EA).
The EA board has recently been told that "if no further funding was allocated to schools in a year, this figure would rise to 80%".
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