The INTO has said figures released this evening by the Department of Education confirm its view that up to 1,000 teaching posts will be lost in primary schools as a result of budget cutbacks.
The department has released information that shows that more than 250 mainstream teaching posts will be lost.
However, the data deals only with losses to classroom teacher posts. It does not include the loss of special needs teachers, language teachers or other positions.
The INTO says in addition to the loss of 250 classroom teachers, dozens of primary schools with growing pupil numbers will not be able to appoint teachers because of the Government's decision.
INTO General Secretary John Carr said: 'The Minister's cutbacks will result in serious overcrowding in primary school classes.
'It is obvious that when it came to education, the first port of call for cutbacks was frontline staff.'
The union says it expects 500 English language teachers to also lose their jobs.
A further 200 teaching posts will be lost through cuts in special classes and home school co-ordinator positions.
