‘Rejecting deal won’t fill empty principal jobs’

THE problems faced by schools filling vacant principals’ jobs could be worsened if the Croke Park public service pay deal is rejected, it has been claimed.

The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) said 15 schools have already had to advertise for a principal at least twice this year and it is aware of a handful of schools in Kerry, Clare and Galway which have placed ads for the third time.

The difficulties have been around for a few years but IPPN president Pat Goff says hundreds more principals may retire before the end of the year if the pay and public service reform deal is not passed by unions next week. The crucial outcome of ballots by SIPTU and IMPACT, both expected to be announced today, will decide how the wider public service union movement votes on rejection or acceptance next week.

“The deal would extend by another year the ability of principals to retire on a pension based on their salaries before the 5% cuts introduced since last January. But if it is not accepted, we expect well more than the 300 primary principals who left the job last year to go by the end of December,” Mr Goff said.

“The job is already unattractive enough for teachers, particularly as the increase in allowances for those already in a middle management post, is only worth around €800 a year,” he said.

The ongoing moratorium on school management promotions means principals are burdened with an even greater workload in the past year. IPPN director Sean Cottrell said the relatively poor pay increase is just one reason why teachers are shunning principal roles.

“Research shows most teachers aspire towards the position because they want to make a real difference to children’s lives. However, constraints such as the dual role of teacher and manager, volume of legislation and a huge increase in workload are making this once sought-after position highly unattractive,” he said.

More than two-thirds of primary principals are class teachers, with between 14 and 22 days a year covered by a substitute to allow them focus on administration duties. The IPPN is proposing a seven-year contract for primary principals, with an option to have it renewed pending satisfactory performance, or return to full-time teaching.

The organisation said the loss of special needs assistants and the axing of special classes have added to the burden of principals.