John Trueman, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Northern Ireland, comments on the decision of a majority of teachers in Northern Ireland to reject a 5.5% pay offer for 2024-25.
“It is obviously very disappointing that the latest formal pay offer of 5.5% has again been rejected. It is clear that workload remains teachers’ biggest concern, and this has been reflected in this response from the NITC.
“We welcome the sentiments expressed by other unions in their willingness to find a resolution to this matter; however, we would urge both the NITC and Management Side to work quickly to do so.
“As the representative body for 250 school leaders in Northern Ireland, we understand all too well the excessive workload associated with working in schools, but it is not acceptable to continue with a recurring cycle of industrial action where those who are impacted most negatively are the children and young people we are here to serve.
“There needs to be a meaningful agreement reached that can bring about stability for all involved.”