AQW 32770/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 03/10/2025
Answered On Date: 20/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he plans to introduce a transitional bursary, or financial support package, for current PGCE students who are excluded from the 2026 Initial Teacher Education bursary scheme.

Answer:

The purpose of the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) bursary scheme, and the basis of both business case approval and the proposed evaluation of the pilot, is to increase the number of both applications and enrolments in ITE in subjects which are experiencing teacher shortages.

Extending the scheme to include current students would not increase either applications or enrolments and would not, therefore, be deemed a Value for Money option that would fulfil the objectives of the scheme. It would also incur significant additional costs, which cannot be met from within the Department’s existing 2025/26 budget. The Education Sector is already facing an overcommitment of c£279m in 2025/26 for inescapable pressures only.

I understand this is disappointing for those already enrolled.