Question to the Minister of Education

Minister's Answer

My Department has not carried out an assessment of the impact of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Following the implementation of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 employing authorities (Education Authority (EA) and Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS)) and Board of Governors were required to review their recruitment and selection procedures, ensuring that they address the implications of fair employment legislation.

Through the Teachers’ Negotiation Committee (TNC) a Fair Employment Working Group was established to consider the implications of the Act to ensure a co-ordinated implementation of the legislation.

Through the working group the monitoring requirements and form to be used were agreed with the employing authorities (EA and CCMS). They are each required to report to the Equality Commission Northern Ireland (ECNI) in an agreed return. All other schools report independently to the ECNI.

My Department has ensured that the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 has been implemented across all grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.