Paul Givan said: “I welcome today’s positive development that unions have agreed to suspend their planned Action Short of Strike on the issue of pay and to allow negotiations to reach a conclusion.
“Teachers deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I am determined to achieve that. I have been clear with the unions that I am committed to securing the funding required to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreement reached in the summer of last year in England and Wales, on the understanding that we secure agreement to a sustained period of stability, free from industrial action, including ASOS, in our schools.
“I have asked Management Side to intensify discussions with our trade union partners to reach a formal agreement over the next four weeks.”