IPPN

Principals Urge That Lessons Be Learned

The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) expressed its serious concern at the aspirational level of some key elements in the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003. In its submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Education and Science yesterday, IPPN Director, Seán Cottrell, called for lessons to be learned from the Education Welfare Act where essential personnel and resources failed to materialise in time for schools to implement the new legislation.

In welcoming the broad thrust of the Bill for Persons with Disabilities, Seán Cottrell stated that the role of Special Needs Organiser (SNO) is critical to the effective implementation of this historic legislation. The Bill in its current draft form places an unrealistic burden of responsibility on the role of principal whilst failing to define satisfactorily and in adequate detail the role of the SNO. Seán Cottrell claims that principals have displayed remarkable commitment to the inclusion and integration of children with disability and special education needs into mainstream primary schools. However, unless the Act outlines an effective, meaningful and clear role for the SNO it is most probable that expectations will be raised by this piece of legislation only to have the hopes and dreams of parents and children dashed by system failure.

75% of all principals of primary schools are also fulltime class teachers. An independent report by HayGroup Management Consultants earlier this year highlighted the already overburdened nature of the role of the primary principal. IPPN believes that the statutory rights of children with disability will be best served through the creation of a network of Special Needs Organisers who will provide a 'one-stop shop' for parents of children with disability. The role of SNO should include identifying and registering children with disability, commissioning the required assessments, facilitating enrolment, designating resources, co-ordinating individual education plans and conducting ongoing reviews. Such a service would radically reduce the need for the use of the Courts as a means of accessing services and would lead to a more equitable system for all concerned.

IPPN urges the Oireachtas to ensure that principal teachers are given meaningful consultation in the evolution of this Bill to ensure that the Act will lead to sound educational practice serving the needs of our most cherished children.

ENDS

For Further information: Tel: 1890 21 22 23 Seán Cottrell (National Director of IPPN)

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The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) calls upon the INTO to give urgent attention to principals' issues at the union's annual congress in Bundoran this week.

Last Thursday, executive members of IPPN met with the INTO leadership to appeal that the union give priority to the crisis facing principals of the country's 3,300 primary schools. At this meeting, IPPN was assured by the INTO of their commitment to address this issue both during and subsequent to its annual congress which takes place this week.

The main causes of this crisis are:

• Constant increases in principals' workload with every new education initiative and policy development
  
• Legislation which has radically changed the nature of the principal's role with more and more responsibilities and functions devolved from the DES & Boards of Management to school principals
  
• Inadequate secretarial and caretaking support in schools
  
• A grossly inadequate salary which fails to reflect a principal's level of responsibility and workload

This crisis has lead to:

• A rapid rise in the number of principals seeking early retirement or "stepping down" to a teaching role, due to high levels of stress, burn-out and other related health problems
  
• A dramatic fall in the number of teachers applying for the post of principal - the average number of applicants per vacant principal's post in 1996 was 5.9, in 2002 the average no. of applicants has fallen to 2.9
  
• A deep concern from teaching principals (75% of all principals) about the educational impact on their pupils, due to the simultaneous time demands arising from the dual role of principal and class teacher (Report on The Role of Primary Principal in Ireland by HayGroup Management Consultants 2003)
  
• Frustration, disillusionment and falling morale as remuneration for primary principals' was negatively affected, in relative terms, by the Benchmarking process

IPPN, in its capacity as a professional body for school leaders, urges the INTO to give immediate priority to the above issues in order to prevent an emerging crisis of leadership in our primary schools.

ENDS

Further information from: Seán Cottrell, 086 647 8717

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Schools Closures Threat

The issue of supervision and the threat of closures in primary schools highlighted in the recent media coverage was discussed by the executive of the Irish Primary Principals Network at a meeting in Galway on Saturday August 31st, 2002.

IPPN wishes to state that the duty of care in relation to children held by all teachers by virtue of their contract remains unchanged.

Accordingly, the IPPN executive recommends that until revised arrangements are put in place by official Department of Education and Science circular, the existing supervision arrangements in each primary school should remain.

This will eliminate the current threat of any possible disruption to primary schools as a new school year begins.

In the interest of good school organisation and pupil safety IPPN urges the DES, INTO and management bodies to bring about a speedy and effective resolution to this impending problem that is a particular concern to principals and deputy principals of 3,300 primary schools nation-wide.

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