Teachers in Northern Ireland are to hold a half-day strike on Tuesday 21st of February. This will be the first strike in over five years. The largest teaching unions, NAS/UWT, UTU and INTO will strike from midnight until midday which will mean many schools will be closed for the morning. The NEU are currently balloting members. This follows the collapse of negotiations which have been going on for over a year between the unions and the employing authorities, The Department of Education and the Education Authority.

The BBC also reports that the NAHT, who represent many school leaders, has written to the employing bodies, the Northern Ireland Secretary and the leaders of the five main political parties urging for negotiations