Teacher pay talks can proceed after ministerial direction approved – Givan

Discussions over a pay award for teachers in Northern Ireland can now progress following approval for Education Minister Paul Givan to overspend his budget.

The minister said he had used the urgent decision procedure to get approval for his ministerial direction to reflect the “importance of avoiding further delay in progressing teachers’ pay arrangements”.

Mr Givan had previously been critical that his direction was not accepted at an Executive meeting earlier this week.

Ministerial directions are formal instructions from ministers directing their permanent secretary to proceed, despite objections, with a spending plan.

The minister said: “It was essential that the ministerial direction on the 2025–26 teachers’ pay award proceeded without delay, given the serious consequences that any postponement would have had.

“Following yesterday’s Executive meeting, I wrote to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister setting out both the decision required and the implications of deferring it.

“The First Minister and deputy First Minister have now considered the matter, and I am pleased that approval has been given for the ministerial direction.

“This enables discussions to progress and provides an important step towards ensuring teachers are treated fairly.”

The minister said the financial pressures on his department remain acute.

Mr Givan added: “I continue to work with officials and the Education Authority to reduce the projected deficit of circa £267m for this financial year, but critical pressures persist.

“My decision to bring forward a direction underlines my continued commitment to Northern Ireland’s teaching professionals and the pupils and school communities they serve.”

The minister said the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) would meet early in the new year to take the pay offer forward.

The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), representing the five main teacher unions, said it looked forward to engaging with the TNC over pay in January.

A statement said: “Our focus remains on securing a fair and sustainable pay offer for teachers, who have waited patiently for progress amidst the ongoing pressures within the education system.”