IPPN

The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) expressed a growing lack of confidence in the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D. at their annual conference in Killarney today.

"Principals are rapidly losing confidence in the Minister for Education and Science because of her failure to adequately fund the day-to-day operating costs of primary schools and to properly resource the inclusion of children with special and other educational needs. Principals are also losing confidence in the Minister because of her failure to fulfill her promise to reduce Principals' workload." said Seán Cottrell, Director, IPPN.

"It is an accepted fact that primary schools get only half of what they need to cover basic operating costs. The expectation is for a full quality service with only half the required funding. Principals, teachers, parents and even children have to fundraise and save coupons to cover the rest." said Mr. Cottrell. "We have a psychological service which only covers about half the schools in the country. How can such a critical service as NEPS be delivered on a quota basis like war-time rations and, in some cases, withdrawn arbitrarily?"

In his address to nearly 1,000 principals, Mr Cottrell stated that the patience of Principals was wearing thin. "We have been taken for granted." he said, "Even an elastic band has its breaking point! Minister, we are losing confidence."

"The Department has never had greater expectations of schools and school leaders, never had more tools of assessment of teaching and learning, never had greater emphasis on inclusion and integration. Principals want successful inclusion. To make it happen, we need access to services for all the children in our care, not just those who fit into predefined categories. In addition to the psychological services provided by NEPS, there is a pressing need for clinical psychologists, child psychiatrists, language therapists, counsellors and translators."

Three years ago, Principals were told by Minister Hanafin that she was going to "prioritise the reduction of Principals' workload". IPPN was invited to participate in a working group set up by the DES. "Despite repeated requests from IPPN, there has been no meeting of this group in 2007." Seán Cottrell told the assembled Principals that "not a single positive outcome for Principals has been achieved by this group in three years. Why is it that the DES flies in the face of international best practice by failing to meaningfully consult the Professional Body that represents Principals?"

ends

Note:
Tom Collins, Professor of Education, NUI, Maynooth, speaking to the conference put a figure on the extra investment needed. "We need to set a target for education in Ireland at 7% of GNP. This would mean a further investment of two billion euro which would equate to 200 euro per child. A school of 100 pupils would benefit by 20,000 euro annually."