A GROUP of head teachers in Co Derry have written to parents warning of the increasing financial pressures faced by schools.
The letter, signed by 25 principals in the Limavady area from the controlled, Catholic maintained, integrated and Irish Medium sectors, emerged yesterday.
In it, principals call on politicians to return to Stormont to address the ongoing school budget crisis.
Before Christmas it emerged that 446 schools – nearly half of schools in the North of Ireland – were facing budget deficits in 2018.
The letter warns parents budgets have been slashed by 10% per school, which they stress has come amid “unprecedented financial budgets” over the past four years
“Before this reduction (of 10%) was made schools were struggling to address the educational and emotional needs of our schools,” the head teachers write.
The “inevitable outcome” of these cuts include “increased class sizes”, more school costs for parents/staff to pay for, reduced levels of already-stretched teaching and support staff, they claim.
“If funding is not increased, we will not be able to continue to deliver the high quality educational standards that we have been accustomed to”, they continue.
Calling on politicians to put their difficulties aside, the head teachers urge parents to join them in their campaign.
“As a group of principals we feel that you, the parents, need to be aware of the profoundly negative impact that these cuts are having on your children’s education,” they explain.
“We would like all of our parents to get behind our schools and to use whatever influence that you might have to encourage our political representatives to move this situation forward.”
In response, a Department of Education spokesperson said it continues to request additional funding each year but stressed it does not determine the final outcome.
“Overall budget allocations…must be funded from available resources and are decided by Ministers,” the spokesperson added.
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