Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has advised principal teachers to "stop moaning" about their jobs, as they are damaging the image of the profession.
The Minister said complaints by teachers about their jobs were undermining efforts to attract more males into the profession. She said she had never complained in public about her role as a politician and she advised principals to do the same if they wanted to retain the goodwill and respect of the public.
The Minister also told delegates to the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) that they had "nothing to fear" from the forthcoming publication of school inspection reports. If anything, she said, publication would give the public a greater understanding and appreciation of their work.
The Minister, who launched the new graduate entry regime for medicine earlier this week, hinted at other reforms in courses which now require very high CAO points.
The Government, she said, had committed itself to easing points system pressure on students. Similar moves to reduce the points levels for the likes of veterinary, architecture, pharmacy and other courses could be considered. However, she ruled out any new regime for law, as there were already several entry routes into the profession.
The Minister said she did not favour payment for members of school boards of management despite complaints from the IPPN that the current regime was outmoded. This would, she said, be a backward step at a time when the Government was seeking to increase volunteer activity across Irish society. Many excellent people were willing to help out their school community by getting involved in running school boards and she saw no need for payment.
Mr Seán Cottrell, the director of IPPN, also advised delegates not to "talk down" the profession. He said that principals needed greater support to address the issue of under-performing teachers and he was critical of what he called the lack of agreed procedures to deal with this.
In his address to delegates, Mr Cottrell said that new management structures were required for primary schools.
"With a reliance on declining volunteerism, declining numbers of clergy and little or no financial or legal expertise, local boards of management are struggling to fulfil their mandate. Principals are spending time on matters which prevent them from concentrating on teaching and learning."
Principals, he said, should be concerned and occupied with matters to do with improving quality-learning outcomes in their schools, not the housekeeping.