HARDSHIP payments for substitute teachers left out of work due to the Covid-19 lockdown must be made "immediately".
The assembly education committee yesterday heard calls for financial support for casual supply staff.
Education minister Peter Weir and senior officials joined the meeting by audio link.
Witnesses gave an update on the coronavirus response to date, which has included closing all schools and cancelling exams.
Some schools remain open to provide supervision for vulnerable pupils and key workers' children.
The numbers fluctuate each day. On Tuesday, there were 821 children attending 404 of the north's 1,100 schools.
A total of 117 schools are involved in clustering arrangements.
The most common number of pupils attending is zero and the average is two, the committee was told.
Mr Weir said he welcomed the efforts happening in schools by both teaching and non-teaching staff.
More than 12,000 staff were available on Tuesday, either in school or remotely.
The committee's deputy chairperson, Sinn Féin's Karen Mullen, raised the issue of pay for substitute teachers.
Those on fixed-term contracts including maternity cover will be paid "for the period of time that they have been engaged to work".
This includes any days already agreed through the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register.
However, casual subs have expressed concerns to The Irish News that they are not covered.
Ms Mullan asked if the Department of Education would consider making payments based on average earnings.
Mr Weir said his department had prepared proposals that were with the Department of Finance.
Speaking afterwards, the SDLP's Daniel McCrossan said while he welcomed the minister's intent on introducing hardship funding, it was concerning that it had not yet been approved.
"Supply teachers from across the north have been left severely out of pocket and are suffering financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many feel they have simply been left out of the equation and have no financial assistance available," he said.
"Scotland has already announced a hardship fund for Scottish supply teachers and a similar package must be announced here with minimal delay."
The committee also received updates on unofficial 11-plus tests - which are still due to go ahead in November - free school meals, distance learning and protective equipment supplied to schools.
Mr Weir said that, to date, schools had received 18,343 bottles of hand sanitizer, 5,000 disinfectant wipes, more than 30,000 aprons, 2,500 gloves delivered with more stock available, 60 face shields and thousands of containers of disinfectant.
Department Permanent Secretary Derek Baker told the committee that current PHA advice was that personal protective equipment was not generally necessary in schools.
He added that where individual schools required equipment the department would work with them.
