Principals back fixed-term contracts

Principals should be allowed return to full-time teaching after a set number of years, most primary school leaders believe, as workload and stress are forcing them to retire early.

Although opinion is fairly evenly divided, 56% of Irish Primary Principals Network members surveyed believe appointments should be on a fixed-term contract. A seven-year post was suggested as an example.

The principals of around two-thirds of the country’s 3,300 primary schools double as class teachers but are allowed a set number of non-teaching days each year for administration duties.