Primary school principals met politicians at Leinster House as part of their campaign to highlight what they say is underfunding in the sector, as well as the pressures school principals in smaller schools are facing.
The Primary Principals Forum said 60% of primary principals here are obliged to teach a class as well as lead their school, and that they are facing significant burnout and job fatigue due to the dual responsibility of teaching and administration.
The organisation says this is exacerbated by insufficient support staff.
As the primary school year nears its close, the forum called for a funding increase for primary schools to align Ireland with the OECD average.
“Additional financial support is needed to cover the rising cost of utilities, insurance, and operational expenses, thereby reducing the reliance on extensive fundraising by parents,” the forum said in a statement, echoing concerns that have also expressed by other education bodies over the course of this school year, including the Catholic Primary School Managers Association.
The PPF said there is a “pressing need” for increased administrative time for teaching principals.
More than a dozen primary school principals attended today’s event at Leinster House.
The forum has also called for “the chronic under-resourcing” of Special Education Needs supports to be addressed urgently, for a reassessment of grant aid to schools to cover the wages of secretarial and cleaning and caretaking workers, and for additional resources to be provided to support schools that are integrating refugee and asylum-seeking children.
“Parents of primary school children need to be informed about the government’s actions and decisions impacting their children’s education,” the group said.
