Cuts affect classroom assistants and support for teachers

The board will vote on whether to introduce the measures on Tuesday.

Former board member Fred Cobain's comments follow a vote "under protest" by the South Eastern Education Board to cut �13m over two years.

"I think when you look at this issue about education cuts, this community needs to stand up for itself," he said.

"When you look where the cuts are directed, they are clearly directed at special needs and those children who are from socially and economically deprived backgrounds."

On Monday, the South Eastern Education and Library Board voted through a package of measures to save millions of pounds.

They include major cutbacks in services to special needs children as well as cuts in transport, classroom assistants and support for teachers.

The board already has to repay the government more than �5.5m it overspent in the last financial year.

Members said they would vote the �13m of cuts through, but only under duress. Some wanted to reject them entirely.

We are concerned that they will have an adverse impact on the education of children Jackie Fitzsimons, SEELB executive

The cuts include halving the number of hours of home tuition for sick children to save �200,000.

The toy and book library will close saving �155,000, while extra charges will bring in more money for music lessons and school meals.

Some board members wanted to reject the cuts and accused Education Minister Barry Gardiner of not caring about Northern Ireland education.

However, the Department of Education had threatened to take control of finance if the board had not voted through the savings.

Unions are threatening to take strike action over the decision.

Patrick Mulholland of the trade union, Nipsa, said: "What appears today breaches health and safety law.

"It puts lives of children at risk and the document states that. It is an attack on special needs children.

The SEELB's chief executive, Jackie Fitzsimons, said members were "very saddened" that after many years of building up services they were "forced to dismantle" them.

Budget preparation

"We are concerned that they will have an adverse impact on the education of children," he said.

"We are obviously trying to do things differently and make efficiencies, but the cuts are so large it will impact directly on children.

Last week, the North Eastern Education and Library Board voted to push through cuts to school services "under severe duress", as it faces a �6m shortfall in money from the department next year.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that all five cash-strapped education and library boards had been given more time to prepare their budgets.