One in three primary school principals are ready to resign their posts and return to the classroom, according to one of the most comprehensive surveys to date of school leaders.
High levels of stress in coping with an ever-increasing workload is cited as the single biggest factor that makes them want to resign.
Results of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation survey point to an increasing crisis of leadership in Irish schools as principals feel weighed down by administrative, educational and leadership roles.
Its key findings include:
• One-third of principals say they are considering or have actively considered resignation;
• Two-thirds say they would resign if their service as principal were factored into their pension;
• 30 per cent are leaving their positions before retirement;
• More than 70 per cent of vacancies for principals are attracting fewer than four applicants. And many such vacancies have to be readvertised because they fail to attract sufficient applicants.
The survey reveals that principals in 75 per cent of the State's 3,200 primary schools have to combine administrative functions with full-time teaching duties.
INTO general secretary John Carr said last night there was a consensus that primary schools were facing a "recruitment crisis", particularly in smaller schools, with teachers reluctant to take on the principal's post.
The leadership crisis in schools is set to figure prominently alongside the class size issue at this week's three teacher conferences.
In an interview in today's Irish Times, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin denies that the sudden announcement a fortnight ago of 4,000 extra primary teachers, as well as an unspecified number of new second-level teachers, represents a U-turn.
She defended her decision to give priority to special needs pupils and children newly arrived in the State, and said the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) campaign on class size was a case of "eaten bread - Okay, you did that, what's next please?".
The class size issue will feature prominently at the conferences held by the INTO, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) as teachers seek clarification on promises made by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during his Fianna Fáil Ardfheis speech.
Mr Carr said he would also be raising the issue of the principals' allowance in smaller schools (of €8,000-€11,000) which he said "does not adequately reflect the additional workload and responsibilities involved".
One principal in the survey said the financial compensation was derisory for the workload and responsibility involved. This principal teaches in a nine-teacher school and is paid an allowance of €11,672, in addition to basic salary.
"This equates to €31.70 per school day or 23c per pupil per school day," the principal said.
The INTO surveyed 600 teachers across all regions and all principal teachers in counties Limerick and Kerry. The survey results, which will be discussed by delegates at the union's conference, mark a setback for Ms Hanafin, who has been urging more teachers to take on leadership roles.
The survey shows that the biggest barrier to recruiting principals is the small difference between a principal's salary and a promoted teacher's salary. The salary allowance for teaching principals in smaller schools was also a disincentive to apply for the job.
INTO members are due to consider several motions on the issue. One describes as "unprecedented" the increase in workload arising from legislation, curriculum revision, administration and pastoral care. It demands that principals at primary level be paid the same salary allowances as principals at post-primary. It also demands a step-down facility for principals that would recognise their service for seniority purposes and provide for appropriate pension and lump-sum entitlements.
