Women ‘under-represented in school principal posts’

WOMEN hold almost two-thirds of teaching jobs in some second-level schools but are appointed to only one-fifth of principal posts, figures have revealed.

The details will be outlined today at a conference on equality in education, organised by the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Equality Authority.

TUI assistant general secretary Annette Dolan said that 2,653 - or 63% - of the 4,200 teachers in community and comprehensive (C&C) schools are women. But there are only 21 female principals in the 105 schools in the sector.

This ratio is slightly better for deputy and assistant principal roles, but women still hold less than half of around 920 such posts.

The balance only swings back towards females in terms of those with special duties posts, such as co-ordinating transition year or other programmes.

“Teaching should reflect society and it would be preferable for students to have male and female role models. The profession is becoming more feminised.

“The Department of Education, unions and management bodies have a role in tackling this issue but so do teachers, in promoting teaching as an attractive career,” Ms Dolan said.

A campaign recently launched by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to attract more men into teaching focuses on primary schools, rather than second and third level.

Ms Dolan said the Government has paid a great deal of lip service to accommodating diversity in schools but is failing in its obligations to schools which are most in need.

In schools where 28 students whose first language is not English, two resource teachers can be appointed but the resources do not increase if there are 100 such students, as is the case in many vocational schools.

“The situation is even worse in further education colleges where, no matter how many non-English speaking students there are, they receive no additional supports for English language teaching,” Ms Dolan added.

Equality Authority chief executive Niall Crowley said that although significant progress has been made in achieving inclusive schools and colleges, only the foundations have been laid.

He cited the need to see students and staff from all backgrounds.

Equal Status and Employment Equality acts prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community.