Industrial action by teachers in Northern Ireland planned for next week has been suspended.
Teaching unions have called off the action to “allow for further discussion” around pay negotiations.
Education minister Paul Givan has welcomed the move and said he was committed to securing funding to allow teachers to receive a pay offer in the context of that offered to those in England and Wales last summer.
Members of three teaching unions last month voted overwhelmingly for strike action over pay.
It came six months after teachers had accepted a pay offer of more than 10% for the years from 2021 to 2024.
The NASUWT, INTO and UTU unions balloted members on action in November due to the lack of “a satisfactory pay offer for 2024-25″.
Teachers voted by a majority in each union for strike action and action short of strike.
No strike dates were announced last month, but just last week it emerged that NASUWT members were told that action ‘short of strike’ should begin on January 13.
However, in a statement on Friday, Mr Givan said the teaching unions had agreed to suspend industrial action planned for next week.
“I welcome today’s positive development that unions have agreed to suspend their planned action short of strike on the issue of pay and to allow negotiations to reach a conclusion,” he said.
“Teachers deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I am determined to achieve that.
“I have been clear with the unions that I am committed to securing the funding required to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreement reached in the summer of last year in England and Wales, on the understanding that we secure agreement to a sustained period of stability, free from industrial action, including ASOS, in our schools.
“I have asked management side to intensify discussions with our trade union partners to reach a formal agreement over the next four weeks.”
