'We are worried some families may not afford 20% school dinner hike'

A senior teacher at Ashfield Girls' High School in Belfast expressed concerns over a nearly 20% increase in school dinner costs by the Education Authority (EA), fearing its impact on families. The price hike, affecting primary, special, and post-primary students, could strain budgets for families with multiple children. The EA cites inflation and funding gaps as reasons for the increase, affecting not only school meal costs but also music tuition fees as they seek to offset budgetary shortfalls through charging.