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Student Union President, Keri Teague, thinks everyone should benefit from it
By
Education and arts correspondent, BBC News NI
Students training to be teachers in Science, Maths and Irish who do not qualify for support of up to £20,000 feel "disheartened" and "disrespected".
Student teachers at St Mary's University College in Belfast have presented a proposal to the Department of Education (DE) that would see them get some financial support for the remainder of their course.
Those in Northern Ireland set to teach in Irish language schools and Maths, Science or Technology subjects have their tuition fees paid.
But the department said that "funding is not available to extend the scheme to current undergraduate students".
The bursary scheme, introduced by Education Minister Paul Givan, only applies to students who start their training in September 2026.
The move was to address teacher shortages in Maths, Science, Technology and Irish.
Teachers funded under the scheme have to commit to staying in Northern Ireland to teach for at least two years after they qualify.
But it meant that around 120 current students who began to train as Maths, Science, Technology and Irish teachers before 2026 missed out on the financial support.
Some have sent a detailed proposal to the department setting out a "tapered" alternative scheme.
It would see those set to graduate and qualify as teachers in 2027, 2028 and 2029 get some of their tuition fees paid.
The students estimate it would cost £1.2m in total to provide that support.
Former Student Union President at St Mary's Caoilte Hamil has backed the proposal
The former Student Union President at St Mary's, Caoilte Hamil would not personally benefit but has backed the proposal.
"The minister rightly addressed what he considered an acute shortage of teachers and educators in STEM areas," he said.
"From September 2026, tuition fees will be waived for those who apply and enrol into those courses.
"Our argument has been that there should be a level of acknowledgement for those students who are already enrolled in teaching capabilities in these areas, who already have a passion to be teachers in these areas and are the short-term solution to this long term problem.
"Those students who are currently studying in those areas are feeling very disheartened, they're felling ignored and they're feeling quite disrespected."
The current Student Union President Keri Teague agreed.
"I think it's important to filter it in so that everyone benefits from it," she said.
"It's our generation that are going into these jobs, and obviously through the scheme as well they're guaranteed to stay in the country and work for a while.
"But if you don't take that into consideration the next graduates might not even be in the country to fill the vacancies."
Turlough O'Hagan says It's unfair not to be given the same treatment as those who are only starting now
Turlough O'Hagan is a current student about to start his fourth year on his Maths and Science Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) course.
"It is very disheartening," he said.
"Teaching is something that I've always been passionate about, coming from a family of teachers.
"It's unfair not to be given the same treatment as those who are only starting now."
He has estimated he will owe around £50,000 in student loans by the time he finishes his course and qualifies as a teacher.
"It just feels that I've been put at a disadvantage and I'm considering do I want to stay here to teach?
"There's 120 students currently in training for these STEM subjects, but there's no incentive for us to stay here.
"I want to stay here but I just don't know if it's a financially viable situation with the cost of living that there is at the moment."
Compared to other students, Rhian McCrory says they are at a "great disadvantage"
Rhian McCrory is also in fourth year, and is studying to teach Maths.
"We're put at a great disadvantage compared to other students coming into Maths teaching," she said.
"Coming out of university we're probably going to be in debt of £40,000 to £50,000.
"And we're going to be expected to pay that all back ourselves whereas other students in the same position coming after us are going to be completely debt free after university.
"Having a bursary for fourth year to have our tuition fees paid would be extremely beneficial for us."
In response, a Department of Education spokesperson said: "The Initial Teacher Education Bursary Scheme is designed specifically to attract more student teachers into subjects with the greatest teacher shortages.
"At a time when the Department of Education faces significant financial challenges, funding is not available to extend the scheme to current undergraduate students and doing so would not increase the number of new entrants to teacher education, which is the fundamental purpose of the scheme."
In England and Wales, the governments have also introduced bursaries of up to £30,000 to attract students to train as teachers in some subjects.
