ALMOST 700 school principals have either retired or moved schools in the last two years.
This unprecedented exodus is creating a huge deficit in leadership experience in primary schools, a conference of deputy principals was told yesterday.
The president of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network, Pat Goff, said this “leadership drain’’ would damage the capacity of the education system.
More than one in five primary school principals left the system in the past two years. The network’s research shows this is due to untenable workload, inadequate administrative support and a lack of middle management structures.
In the case of deputy principals, he said, Ireland bucks the international trend: few, if any, will take on a principal’s role. Most recent research figures indicate, on average, less than two candidates apply for the post of principal when it arises. “In fact, the number of cases where there are absolutely no applications for what was once considered a desirable and influential position are increasing year-on-year,’’ he said.
Mr Goff said: “Unless training, support and development of potential successors is prioritised, the entire fabric of our education system is at risk. The Government has already scaled down its support for school leaders, with some leadership development agencies abolished in a recent restructuring.’’
He said most deputy principals would take a drop in total salary if they were appointed principal in a smaller school. “The Department of Education has been aware of this anomaly for years,’’ he said.
