Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain tonight threatened to over-ride the North's education boards and set their budgets for next year on their behalf.
A confrontation between central government and the boards was set in motion last night when the Belfast board refused to set a budget because it would have meant implementing cuts to services of some stg£6.6.
Board chairman Jim Rodgers said members - both political representatives and community appointees - "could not carry out the Government's dirty work for them".
The South Eastern board is due to meet on Thursday and it too will need to agree swingeing cuts in services, which it has been estimated could result in well over 100 teachers being made redundant, if it is to remain within budget.
It has been urged by local politicians to follow the example of the Belfast board and refuse.
But Mr Hain made it clear he would not accept a rebellion. "If these two boards fail to set their budgets, the government must. I and my ministerial colleagues have the necessary powers to do so and will not hesitate to use them," he said.
The problems arose because the two boards had in the past gone over budget, he added.
PA