Education Minister has welcomed a decision by the
Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC) to accept a 4% pay
offer for teachers.
The pay settlement was agreed by the Teachers' Negotiating
Committee (TNC) and represents a further step forward in
maintaining positive industrial relations between management and
the teachers' unions.
Welcoming the decision, Education Minister said: “Extensive work has
taken place to offer a pay increase which is in line with the
increase received by teachers in England and Wales. I am pleased
that the five trade unions which make up the Northern Ireland
Teachers' Council have now formally accepted this on behalf of
their members.
“The 4% pay settlement will see the starting salary for graduate
teachers increasing to £32,916, with an experienced teacher at
the top of the upper pay scale moving to £50,876. This brings
teachers in Northern Ireland onto broadly comparable scales to
their counterparts in England and Wales.
“Today's pay award reflects the value that I place on those
working in education, despite the severe financial issues facing
education and the wider public sector in Northern Ireland. It
firmly demonstrates my support for teachers and recognises the
vital contribution they make to children's life chances.”
The Minister concluded: “In addition to recognising their value
through the pay award, I also want to assure teachers that I will
respond to the Independent Review on Teacher Workload within the
coming weeks.”
Notes to editors:
1. The pay increase of 4% will cost c.£38.3million in 2025/26,
with an annual recurring cost thereafter of £65.6million.
2. Following Executive approval of a Ministerial Direction from
on 18 December 2025, Management
Side of the Teachers' Negotiating Committee submitted a formal
offer to the Northern Ireland Teaching Council (NITC) on 6
January 2026.
3. The offer includes a 4% cost of living increase for
teachers and a 4% increase in teaching and special needs
allowances from 1 September 2025. More information is available
at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/20252026-teachers-pay-offer
4. The Education Minister established an independent panel to
undertake the Review of Teacher Workload in May 2025, in line
with the commitment given by the Minister as part of the
teachers' pay settlement for 2024/25. The Independent Review of
Teacher Workload panel submitted their final report in November
2025
