NASUWT - The Teachers’ Union is demanding urgent action to tackle the growing workload crisis in Northern Ireland, where excessive demands on teachers are jeopardizing their mental health, work-life balance, and the sustainability of education.
Members at the Union’s Annual Conference 2025 in Liverpool today underscored the pressing need for governments and employers to make meaningful changes that prioritise teacher well-being.
A motion passed at the Conference praised the Think1265 campaign, which highlights information to teachers and school leaders about their contractual rights, and has been pivotal in exposing workload breaches and empowering educators to reclaim their work-life balance.
But many schools are still failing to implement these hard-won protections, leaving teachers vulnerable to exploitation.
The NASUWT motion on workload calls for bold and clear measures, including:
- Inspection bodies prioritising teacher health and well-being.
- Mandated meetings between inspection teams and NASUWT representatives.
- Stronger accountability mechanisms for schools that breach contractual agreements.
“Schools and governments must act now to alleviate these pressures before the profession becomes unsustainable.
“Tackling teacher workload is not optional - it is an urgent imperative to secure the future of education.”
Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official for Northern Ireland, added: “The workload crisis is having an immediate and harmful impact on teachers’ health and well-being.
“This is not just a matter of contracts - it is a matter of humanity.
“Teachers deserve to work in conditions where their mental health and personal lives are respected. The time for change is now.”
