The proposed cuts to education in Northern Ireland will have "catastrophic" consequences, a new report has warned.
Researchers from Ulster University, Newcastle University, Queen's University Belfast and Stranmillis University College have detailed the severe impact education cuts could have on children and young people.
The Education Authority is facing a funding gap of £200million in the budget set by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in the absence of a Stormont Executive.
The Assembly and Executive have not been functional for more than a year due tothe DUP's ongoing protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements.
The new report argues that cuts to education are being made with minimal input from the UK Government and little say from Northern Ireland's own elected representatives, undermining the principle of political accountability and public sector equality duties, with the authors making the case for immediately ending the reliance on civil servants to make policy decisions.
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, of Ulster University, who convened the group of researchers, said the cuts would hit families especially hard as they try to navigate the cost-of-living crisis.
