Board members have resigned in protest at education cuts

Several unions, including Nipsa and the T&G, will ballot members over a possible one-day stoppage on 13 May.

Several members of the province's five education and library boards have resigned over cuts in services running to about �30m.

Earlier this week, two unions defended board chiefs under pressure about overspending of education budgets.

Nipsa and Unison represent the majority of non-teaching staff in the education sector.

They accused Education Minister Barry Gardiner and his department of using the Jack Report, published last week, to deflect attention from the government's imposition of massive budget cuts in the sector.

In a joint statement, the unions said it was important that people understood that all alleged overspends were needed to provide education services.

'Struggling'

On Monday, the new president of the National Association of Head Teachers warned the education system in Northern Ireland was struggling to stay afloat.

Colm Davis, principal of Tor Bank Special School outside Belfast, accused Mr Gardiner of failing to bail out the board.

Education Minister Barry Gardiner defended the cutbacks

He told the annual head teachers' conference in Limavady that a lack of resources made it hard for schools to help children, particularly those with special needs.

One day later, it was announced that all 32 classroom assistants at Mr Davis' school would go on strike on Friday in protest at pay and conditions.

The minister has insisted that education cutbacks must be made.

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

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