Northern Ireland peer Lord Rogan has tabled a parliamentary question asking the Government what discussions it has had with the devolved governments and trade unions over the geographical discrepancies in starting salaries for teachers across the UK.
Currently a newly qualified teacher in Northern Ireland starts on an annual salary of £24,137. This compares with a starting salary in Scotland of £32,217 from January 2024.
In England, outside of London, new teachers receive £30,000 a year with those starting their career in Wales paid £30,742.
Lord Rogan
Lord Rogan said: “New teachers in Scotland will receive a pay rise in January, meaning they will earn more than £8,000 more than their counterparts in Northern Ireland who work every bit as hard.
“Teachers beginning their careers in England and Wales also receive significantly more than those in Northern Ireland.
“This week’s industrial action in local schools has brought this issue back to the fore, together with the fact that teachers in Northern Ireland have not received a pay rise for more than three years.
“In these circumstances, is not surprising that schools across the province are struggling to recruit and retain teaching staff, with many choosing to seek employment in Great Britain or leave the profession altogether.
“This is clearly very bad news for our schools but, most importantly, our children whose prospects are being gravely affected.
“In the absence of an Executive at Stormont, it is surely time for the UK Government to step forward and address this situation before the teaching brain drain in Northern Ireland runs dry.”