Mr Martin McGuinness has announced the biggest-ever school-building programme in the North. A total of £72 million will be spent on 11 new primary schools, four grammar schools, two secondary schools and a special needs school.
The Sinn Fein Minister of Education said it was the first step in an attempt by the Stormont Executive to resolve the North's school accommodation problems.
He said it would replace substandard accommodation at 18 schools, "bringing real educational benefits to some 10,000 pupils and teachers".
"This £72 million programme will address top-priority needs in the controlled, maintained and integrated school sectors and is widely spread with projects in every county."
The primary school projects include Christ the Redeemer, Dunmurry; St Clare's and St Colman's Abbey, Newry; Castlecaulfield No 2; Woods, Maghera felt; Victoria, Newtownards; and Ballymacward and Ballycarrickmaddy, Lisburn.
Four Belfast primary schools, St Paul's Parish, Cranmore Integrated and Cregagh and Forthriver, will also benefit.
A new facility for 45 pupils with learning difficulties, Donard Special School, will be built at Banbridge, Co Down, while St Brigid's High School, Derry, and Craigavon Senior High will be refurbished. Four grammar schools, Regent House in Newtownards, Antrim Grammar, Dominican College, Belfast, and Convent Grammar in Enniskillen, will be extended.
The chairman of the Education Committee, Mr Danny Kennedy, of the Ulster Unionists, welcomed the building programme but said he had "grave reservations" about disproportionate funding across various sectors.
He said he regretted so little was given to secondary schools when there were so many buildings in this sector in need of refurbishment.