Principals demand school selection overhaul

PRINCIPALS have called for a huge overhaul of how schools are selected in relation to the provision of support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), with members in all 740 second level schools, is seeking changes in the criteria used by the Department of Education to decide which schools should benefit from such supports.

More than 80 schools which previously enjoyed extra resources to help cater for large numbers of disadvantaged students were not included in the programme of supports under Education Minister Mary Hanafin’s DEIS plan for increasing social inclusion in schools.