The Minister for Education is set to hear calls for pay rises for teachers at unions’ conferences this week.
The INTO, ASTI and TUI are all holding their annual meetings where pay is topping the agenda.
The TUI which represents second and third level teachers says a lack of full time work means many of its members are struggling to make ends meet.
Meanwhile Minister Richard Bruton has announced new measures to reduce the cost of going to school.
Under the plans schools will be obliged to place greater emphasis on reducing the financial burden placed on parents.
They include banning the use of workbooks which cannot be reused, using generic uniforms and providing parents with fully costed lists for items they are required to buy.
