Givan and Irish language schools 'on shared journey'

Paul Givan made the comments as new research into Irish-medium schools showed significant pressures facing teachers

Stormont's education minister has said he and Irish-medium schools are on a "shared journey".

Paul Givan also acknowledged that some of those teachers face "considerable workload pressures."

He was speaking at Stormont at the launch of research into teachers' workload in Irish-medium schools.

The research suggested that teachers in Irish-medium schools work well beyond their contracted hours, and often have to do their own translations of English-language textbooks and teaching materials.

The report made a number of recommendations, including paying teachers in Irish-medium schools an additional salary of between £2,475 and £4,886 a year to recognise the extra demands they face, and to help with recruitment.

What did Paul Givan say about the report?

At the event, Givan met young pupils from Scoil na Seolta, the first integrated Irish-medium school in east Belfast.

In 2024, Givan faced some criticism for a meeting the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) at which the school was discussed.

But Givan called the findings of the report into teacher workload in the Irish-medium sector "significant".

"They highlight the considerable workload pressures faced by Irish medium teachers," he said.

He said all teachers faced increasing workloads, but said there were some additional ones in Irish-medium schools.

"Through this research teachers have indicated that there are additional demands unique to the sector," he said.

"The department is listening."

What other issues did the report highlight?

According to the research, carried out by academics from Stranmillis University College and commissioned by the Irish-medium body Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, translating English-language materials into Irish is a significant extra task for teachers.

Maria Thomasson from Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta said teacher recruitment and retention was also a big issue.

"We all know that teachers work hard and long and do more hours than they're contractually entitled to do," she told BBC News NI.

Maria Thomasson says the workload facing Irish language teachers is "unsustainable"

"However in Irish-medium, we go above and beyond the above and beyond.

"It's just unsustainable at this stage.

"We understand that we are in a tight fiscal environment, however, this is the education of our children and we're seeking equity."

Irish language teachers 'wearing more than one hat'

That is something Christine Mhic Colaim from Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta recognises, as she is a former teacher and vice-principal in Scoil Na Fuiseoige in west Belfast.

She told BBC News NI that teachers in Irish-medium schools regularly took on additional roles and were "wearing more than one hat in schools".

"My role was to lead pastoral care in the school, I was the designated teacher for child protection but also the Senco (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) in the school as well," she said.

Some teachers, like Christine Mhic Colaim, have to take on multiple jobs at Irish-medium schools

Ms Mhic Colaim welcomed the minister's presence at the Stormont event.

"It was very encouraging to see the minister here today," she said.

She also welcomed a recent announcement by Givan of more financial support to students training to be teachers in Irish-medium schools.

Mícheál Mac Giolla Ghunna called for more support

The principal of Coláiste Feirste in west Belfast, Mícheál Mac Giolla Ghunna, also welcomed Givan's presence but said that there needed to be a "joined-up strategy" for the Irish-medium sector.

"We've had initiatives in the past - one-off issues, short-term initiatives - and they've been useful but they haven't made the impact that we really need to have," he said.

"We're building a sector at post-primary level really on our own with a lack of understanding from the Department of Education (DE) and from the Education Authority (EA).

"But at the same time we always have to remember that we're doing a job we love, that we're very passionate about and it's really delivering for our pupils."