Students training to be teachers in Science, Maths and Irish who do not qualify for support of up to £20,000 feel “disheartened” and “disrespected”.
Student teachers at St Mary’s University College in Belfast have presented a proposal to the Department of Education (DE) that would see them get some financial support for the remainder of their course.
Those in Northern Ireland set to teach in Irish language schools and Maths, Science or Technology subjects have their tuition fees paid.
But the department said that “funding is not available to extend the scheme to current undergraduate students”.
The bursary scheme, introduced by Education Minister Paul Givan, only applies to students who start their training in September 2026.
The move was to address teacher shortages in Maths, Science, Technology and Irish.
Teachers funded under the scheme have to commit to staying in Northern Ireland to teach for at least two years after they qualify.
But it meant that around 120 current students who began to train as Maths, Science, Technology and Irish teachers before 2026 missed out on the financial support.
Some have sent a detailed proposal to the department setting out a “tapered” alternative scheme.
It would see those set to graduate and qualify as teachers in 2027, 2028 and 2029 get some of their tuition fees paid.
The students estimate it would cost £1.2m in total to provide that support.
