Education minister Barry Gardiner has defended the cuts

It follows a number of resignations from the education boards over cuts set at millions of pounds.

Protesters claim that the budget cuts will affect the most vulnerable children.

However, Mr Gardiner argued that the government was spending 54% more on education than it did five or six years ago.

Members from each of the five education boards have resigned over cuts in services which, Mr Gardiner said, had to be made.

"I accept that it is not helpful to tell people that they have to live within their budget," Mr Gardiner said.

"The real question is why did they (the councillors who resigned or protested) not feel like this five or six years ago?

"We are now spending 54% more on education than we were then. If it is so bad now, why were these councillors not resigning then?"

On Thursday, four Sinn Fein and two SDLP councillors resigned from the Southern Education and Library Board after it voted for savings of �7.2m.

Protesters claim the cuts could affect the most vulnerable children.

A motion of no confidence in the education minister was passed.

On Wednesday, 11 board members resigned from the Western Education Board.

Earlier this week, eight councillors resigned in protest after the Belfast Education Board voted for a �7m package of cuts.

BBC Northern Ireland education correspondent Maggie Taggart said the budget shortfall for the five boards was about �30m.

"We have heard over and over again from boards that we do not want to make these cuts, that Barry Gardiner is responsible," she said.