Concern as Paul Givan publishes plan to plug £1bn education funding gap

Concern has been expressed after Northern Ireland’s Education Minister published a budget plan to plug a projected £1 billion-a-year funding gap.

Paul Givan’s five-year budget strategy includes proposals such as reducing the number of schools in the region.

It will also reform home to school transport, school meals delivery, and “reshape” special educational needs (Sen) support in mainstream schools, as well as introducing a new model of financial management for schools.

Mr Givan described a system “under severe and sustained strain”.

He said his department’s 2025-2026 budget is £3.36 billion, more than £250 million short of what is needed.

He added that based on projected budget allocations, the gap between funding available and spending forecasts widens to more than £0.8 billion by 2026/27 and more than £1.15 billion by 2028/29.

“Years of chronic underfunding and limited structural reform in service delivery have combined to create a financial crisis in education,” he said.

“I will continue to make the strongest possible case for sustained and increased investment in our education system, but the numbers tell a stark story. In the absence of significantly increased funding, financial sustainability will require significant structural reform of the education system.”

Mr Givan said its starting point was that the classroom “must come first”, but that difficult choices would be required.

“My department’s reform proposals have, therefore, been guided by the clear principle of protecting teaching and learning while we put education on a sustainable financial footing. Delivering this protection requires difficult choices,” he said.

“To be clear, we cannot close a billion pound gap, or even meaningfully reduce it through making marginal efficiencies. Nor can we contemplate large‑scale redundancies.

“Northern Ireland’s education system is now at a critical turning point. The proposed reform programme offers a credible and necessary roadmap to stabilise budgets, protect learning and build a sustainable, high‑quality system for the long-term.”

He added that decisions to deliver reform “will not be easy and will require political consensus”.

“But the proposed budget allocation makes them unavoidable,” he said.

“This reform programme is not about temporary fixes. It is about reshaping the system so it is stronger, more resilient and better equipped to deliver excellent outcomes for every child, now and for generations to come.”

The proposals have been put out for public consultation.

Opposition education spokeswoman Cara Hunter said the “sweeping changes proposed” have “already caused real concern among schools and parents”.

“In the context of severe financial pressures across the department and the wider Executive, and a changing school landscape, it is clear that reform is needed,” she said.

“However, these proposals should not be used in a game of brinkmanship between Minister Givan and the Finance Minister.

“It is essential that the voices of schools, unions and parents are fully heard as part of this consultation.

“Proposals to close schools will inevitably cause alarm, particularly in the absence of detail, and while reform of special educational needs provision is urgently required, the minister must clearly demonstrate how these changes will improve outcomes for children and young people with Sen and support their families.”

She added: “Since taking office two years ago, Minister Givan has pursued significant changes to the education system at great speed and with little challenge from other Executive parties.

“I remain unconvinced that his approach will deliver better outcomes for schools or pupils and will continue to press for reforms that are shaped by the education sector and reflect the views of the wider public across Northern Ireland.”