More than 50 children across Northern Ireland are currently unaccounted for in the education system, with over 20 missing from a single school in County Antrim since the start of the term.
According to information obtained by BBC News NI, the Education Authority (EA) circulated a list to school principals containing the names, birth dates, and last known schools of the missing pupils. The list included 24 children who had attended Harryville Primary School in Ballymena, but whose current whereabouts are unknown.
The EA said it has reached out to education authorities in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland for assistance in tracing the children.
> “The safety and protection of children and young people is our absolute priority,” an EA spokesperson stated. “We work with schools and partner organisations to ensure robust systems are in place to identify, record, and monitor pupils’ attendance. When all efforts to locate a child fail, we engage the Child Missing in Education database to share information with authorities across the UK.”
The EA added that it collaborates with Tusla — the Irish Child and Family Agency — and other partners to ensure children who leave schools without notice are tracked.
How the Missing Pupils Came to Light
The list was issued in a letter from the EA’s Education Welfare Service on 8 October. While such “tracer” letters are occasionally sent to schools with a few names, this particular document contained more than 50 — an unusually high number.
Local principals told the BBC the letters ask if any of the named children have enrolled elsewhere.
The development comes months after protests and rioting broke out in Ballymena in June, following an alleged sexual assault in the town. Two 14-year-old boys are currently on remand, accused of attempted oral rape — charges they deny.
Education Minister Paul Givan later acknowledged that pupil absenteeism in the area had increased after the unrest.
Political and Community Reactions
Alliance MLA for North Antrim, Sian Mulholland, described the situation as “deeply worrying,” saying she had heard of “quite a few families leaving” the area following the riots.
“School is often a sanctuary for children, especially those from newcomer families,” she said. “It’s reassuring that the Education Authority is working to trace them.”
North Antrim MP Jim Allister said the missing children likely include many from the Roma community who fled Ballymena earlier this year.
“This confirms what I pointed out previously — that a significant number of Roma families have moved from Ballymena,” Allister said, adding that the situation highlights a need to review current enrolment figures.
The EA’s investigation remains ongoing as efforts continue to account for every missing child.
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