Two primary schools can't get principals
One Kerry school has advertised the role three times
Wednesday July 28 2010
dnolan@kerryman.ie TWO Kerry primary schools are struggling to find principals amid a 'leadership crisis' in education nationwide, according to the body representing head teachers across the country.
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) say that many schools have now been forced to advertise the position a number of times as it becomes increasingly less attractive to teachers due to the 'excessive workload' and dual role of teaching and managing a school, among other factors.
23 schools nationally are now struggling to fill the position, with two of these in Kerry. One of the Kerry schools has advertised the position twice and the other school finds itself among a smaller number of primaries nationwide forced to take the 'unprecedented' step of advertising the position a third time.
"One school in Kerry has advertised the position of principal twice and another school has advertised the role three times," a spokesperson for the IPPN told The Kerryman.
The network has been monitoring the situation closely in recent weeks through their recruitment website EducationPosts.ie and say they cannot identify any of the schools as no consent has been given.
They describe the ongoing difficulties as being representative of a 'leadership crisis' in Irish education and show that an increasing number of class teachers are 'shunning' the position of principal.
Heavier workloads and the dual role of teaching and managing many principals have to fill are prominent among the discouraging aspects of the job.
"The reluctance to apply for principalship is based on a number of factors including excessive workload, the dual role of teaching a class and managing a school, and the absence of a proper step-down process for outgoing principals," IPPN Deputy President Gerry Murphy said.
161 principal positions have been advertised since January on the website, but the number of schools forced to readvertise the position has risen by a 'staggering' 54 per cent in the last two months, he added.
"Eight years ago there was an average of six applicants per advertised post, but this has dropped to less than two in recent years," Mr Murphy added.
- DÓNAL NOLAN
