Many substitute teachers work full-time in schools throughout Northern Ireland. The recently announced closure of all schools has meant that substitute teachers have lost their income as a result. Permanent or contracted teachers will continue to receive their income throughout the shutdown period as is deserved. Prior to the shutdown substitute teachers were employed to fill the absences of permanent or contracted teachers. If the shutdown had not happened many substitute teachers would still be employed to fulfil their roles.

Many schools depend of a good supply of substitute teachers in order to facilitate the continuity of the education for the student body. and many schools maintain a core of permanent substitute teachers that they can rely on to provide the necessary support for the students. 

In order to maintain this supply of great substitute teachers we need to let the Minister of Education Peter Weir know how we feel about the lack of support for substitute teachers during this difficult time. They may be able to claim universal credit, but this will not provide enough financial support to cover their normal basic needs. 

I fully appreciate that substitute teachers are not the only people in need of financial support at this difficult time. I wholeheartedly support anyone experiencing financial difficulties.

Please help support our body of great substitute teacher at this time by asking minister Weir to make provision to pay them at least until the end of the academic year.