It's tough at the top -- why schools can't get a head [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 June 2010
It is the job that few people seem to want. Irish primary schools are finding it increasingly difficult to find principals.
Longer working hours, increased bureaucracy and poor rewards are thought to be the main causes of the poor take-up of jobs.
Principals have stepped down at one quarter of all Irish primary schools over the past two years, and boards of management are now struggling to fill the positions.
"A few years ago a school could expect an average of five or six applicants for a principal's job,'' said Sean Cottrell, Director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN). "Now some schools are lucky if they get two applicants, and posts are remaining unfilled.''
Under the current system there may be little incentive for a rank-and-file teacher to become a head.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
