Responding to the announcement on the relaunch of the Investing in the Teaching Workforce Scheme, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland, said:

“The NASUWT welcomes the fact that this scheme has been relaunched.

“It is also helpful that the criteria for application have been extended to include not only new, but more recently qualified, teachers.

“The scheme provides opportunities, not only for older teachers who have given years of committed and dedicated service to retire early without financial detriment, but also provides opportunities for new and recently qualified teachers to obtain a job in their chosen career.

“It is also welcome that the scheme is being relaunched as a pilot which will provide the opportunity to evaluate how it works and the costs involved.

“Unfortunately, despite the extension of the criteria, it will still not resolve the major issue that needs to be addressed of the number of teachers who are unable to find permanent posts.

“The NASUWT will be urging the minister to look at strategies to address this wider problem including, following the pilot phase, considering extending the criteria for eligibility even further.”