School principals target Hanafin over workloads

SCHOOL principals are claiming their workload had not been reduced, despite promises by Education Minister Mary Hanafin three years ago.

She had made the commitment, in one of her first functions as minister, at the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals.

However, as the organisation for second-level school heads meets again today, its director, Mary McGlynn, said that the situation has probably worsened rather than improved.

“Any private company of a similar size to one of our schools would have a human resources manager to look after contracts and staffing, a financial controller to run the budgets and a facilities manager to look after buildings and repairs. But these jobs are all left to the principal, because the school board doesn’t have the expertise to deal with all these issues,” she said.

“There are additional worries that principals will now also be answerable to trustee boards being set up to take over the role of religious orders. Principals and their deputies can’t continue to be responsible for legal employment and other issues for which they have no contractual responsibility,” said Ms McGlynn.

Ms Hanafin has produced policy templates to help schools meet their legal requirements to have guidelines on admissions, behaviour and other areas. However, the association is seeking discussions with the minister, teacher unions and school managers to restructure middle management. Ms Hanafin will address more than 300 delegates at the association’s conference in Kilkenny this afternoon.