To ask the Minister of Education what engagement her Department has had with the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee regarding pay settlement for teachers’ salary for (i) the 2021- 2022 academic year; and (ii) the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

Teachers’ terms and conditions, including pay, are negotiated by the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC). Management Side of the TNC includes representatives from the employers, sectoral interests and DE. Teachers’ Side of the TNC includes representatives from the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) comprising the five recognised teachers’ unions. My Department is not responsible for the management of the TNC although it is represented on it.

Engagement has been ongoing over the last number of months between Management Side and the NITC to explore options for a teachers’ pay settlement for 2021-22. Following receipt of the NITC pay claim for 2022-23, these discussions are now considering the options for a multi-year pay deal, which will be dependent on the Education budget and Public Sector Pay Policy for 2022-23. Management Side remains committed to resolving issues regarding teachers’ pay through discussion.