Unions were alarmed at a decision by the Department of Education to pause the Investing in the Teaching Workforce scheme.
About £8 million was made available to allow 120 teachers aged 55 and over to be released from the profession.
This would, in turn, provide jobs for 120 recently qualified teachers. It was oversubscribed, receiving 460 applications.
The Department, however, received a legal challenge from a teacher, which related to the stipulation that applications for replacement positions will be open to “recently qualified teachers”.
Dylan Early, 36, from Strabane in County Tyrone, claimed he was being unlawfully excluded from applying for vacancies because of his greater experience.
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