IPPN

Published: 13 November 2006

Following many years of raising the matter with the DES, we are pleased to inform you that three welcomed improvements have been announced by the Minister which will provide better administrative capacity for Principals in a small number of schools.

The measures announced include:

• A full-time administrative deputy principal in schools of 24 or more mainstream class teachers
• A full time administrative deputy principal in schools with five or more special classes - excluding dyslexia & mild general learning disabilities
• A full time administrative principal in schools with 4 or 5 teachers where there is an autism unit approved by the NCSE.

Since 1999, IPPN has consistently highlighted the critical need for additional administrative support for Principals. A strong case for this argument was made in IPPN's submission to the DES on 'Reducing the Administrative burden of schools' where we sought the appointment of an Administrative DP in schools with sixteen or more teachers. At IPPN Conference 2006, our President Tomás Ó Slatara appealed to the Minister to address the plight of the Teaching Principal. In our contribution to the DES Working Group on Principals' Workload and In School Management, we have highlighted the need for practical solutions in this area with particular emphasis on the impossible workload of Teaching Principals.

Earlier this year the IPPN publication Gioraíonn Beirt Bóthar set out for the first time a profile of the role of Deputy Principal based on current best practice in action. It is a testimony to the action research used for this document, that it has played a role in prompting a change in official policy.

While we are pleased that there is some small movement on this issue, it is only addressing the 'tip of the iceberg' in terms of the real problem, as the measures announced will only benefit a handful of very large schools. Meanwhile, more than seven out of ten Principals continue to have full class teaching responsibility and only receive a small number of 'Administrative days', which are ineffective due to the unavailability of suitably qualified and experienced teachers for substitute cover. Teaching Principals continue to fulfill two distinct and simultaneously demanding roles without even proper secretarial support. This situation continues because the grant system for secretarial services punishes the very schools that need it most and there is a lack of will to put the plight of Teaching Principals on top of the agenda. IPPN will continue to lobby and pursue this issue.

If you believe that you may be one of the few schools to benefit from these improvements, please contact the DES - Primary Payments Section - (090) 6483664.