INTO calls for pay parity for primary principals
INTO general secretary John Carr said, "Primary school principals are overburdened, overstretched and overworked. At the same time they are undervalued, underpaid and under-resourced."
The Public Service Benchmarking Body (PSBB) report of 2002 awarded higher principals' allowances for those in second-level schools with more than 23 teachers, compared to their primary counterparts.
The maximum allowance recommended for a primary principal in such a school was €24,129, whereas the principal of a second-level school with more than 30 teachers was entitled to up to €29,196 extra. For a school of 40 or more teachers, the allowance rises to between €31,668 and €34,414.
The issue has been a bone of contention for primary principals since the report was published and INTO has vowed to make it a focus of its submissions to the body during the next benchmarking exercise, which is due to begin in mid-2005.
"Goodwill is being sapped by an education system that clearly places a lower value on the work of the primary principal than on the work of their second level colleagues. This is unfair and unjust, and a resolution must be delivered in the next round of benchmarking," said Mr Carr.
Mr Carr said primary principals and their deputies have made the same contribution to transforming the primary education system as their colleagues have at post-primary level.
"They have co-operated with new legislation, introduced new school programmes and initiatives and aided the introduction of new curricular areas. Why should primary principals be treated differently, be valued less and be paid less?" he asked.
