Givan launches new Curriculum-Led Capital Investment Programme for schools

Date published: 3 December 2024

The new programme provides investment in resources, equipment and facilities that will directly support and enhance delivery of the Northern Ireland curriculum.

This new investment stream will facilitate a large number of high-impact, lower-cost projects in schools and complement the Department’s existing new build and extension programmes.

Commenting on the announcement, the Minister said:

“This new programme will target investment on key areas of learning across the Northern Ireland curriculum.

“I am determined to make the most of available capital funding to enhance learning and teaching for all our children. The curriculum-led programme will ensure that every pupil in every school will benefit from capital investment to improve curriculum delivery. Our children need and deserve this investment.”

Outlining how the new curriculum-led capital investment programme will invest in priority areas that will directly enhance delivery of the curriculum, the Minister continued:

“We have very strong evidence that inadequate facilities are currently having a key impact on the delivery of PE in our schools.

“The initial focus of the first stage of the programme will therefore be a call for for outdoor covered sports spaces for primary schools and for synthetic pitches and sports halls in the post-primary sector.

“This focus on PE will be supplemented by specific annual investment priorities to refresh resources and equipment more widely. This year, the programme will provide funding of £10 million pounds to roll-out outdoor play equipment for every nursery and primary school. It will also deliver 15,000 new desktop computers across all post-primary and special schools.”

The Department will consult further with school leaders over coming months to identify future priority areas of investment across the curriculum.