Care work for students at risk, principals warn

SCHOOL principals have warned that the caring and support work schools do for students is being put at risk by a ban on middle management promotions.

The moratorium on promotions in the public service means that schools can no longer fill vacancies for assistant principals or special duties posts, giving teachers responsibility for topics such as behaviour, attendance, special-needs education and curriculum development.

The head of the second-level principals’ body said that the rise in teacher retirements this year, mostly of people who held such positions which have not since been filled, means many schools are operating without exam secretaries or year heads for some groups.