We, the undersigned parents and friends of Gilnahirk Primary School, are deeply concerned by the recent news that the school will have no hot meals for two weeks and no heating or hot water for at least four weeks due to maintenance issues. This is unacceptable for the children, who deserve a safe, warm, and nurturing learning environment.

Chronic underfunding of schools across Northern Ireland is having real, day-to-day impacts on our kids. As Principal David Corbett said, this is a “microcosm of a much more general, system-wide malaise.” We cannot allow the most vulnerable children to go without proper nutrition and warmth at school.

We call on the Education Authority to immediately:

• Restore hot water and heating systems at Gilnahirk Primary
• Reopen the canteen and resume hot meal service
• Develop a comprehensive maintenance plan and provide adequate funding for all schools to address critical repairs and upgrades.

In both the short and long-term, the EA must prioritise the wellbeing of students. Children cannot learn and thrive in buildings that are literally falling apart. We demand safe, warm and nurturing schools for every child. Invest in our schools and our children’s future.