Sir, – Clive Byrne, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (Education, April 16th), stated: “We should start by appointing principals to the Professional Development Service for Teachers, the body responsible for teacher in-service and training, and draw on the expertise of recently-retired principals.” I have no difficulty with the prospect of a serving principal being appointed to the Professional Development Service for Teachers. Indeed I am confident that many members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland Principals and Deputy Principals Association would be a great asset to the service.
I am, however, very concerned to know what exactly Mr Byrne means by drawing “on the expertise of recently-retired principals”? I am sure these retired men and women will have much to offer in the way of mentoring newly appointed principals and deputy principals. However, I would expect any mentoring would be in a voluntary capacity.
I believe Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a means by which all professionals update their skills and knowledge in order to remain professionally competent and achieve their true potential. In particular I believe CPD will serve to enhance the role of the principal in any school as the “first among equals”. I believe there should be more formal CPD programmes for principal teaching colleagues, given the responsibilities of the job. However, CPD for the academic leaders of our schools and colleges must be led by qualified professionals and not relegated to a sideline for recent retirees.
We must not fall into the trap of seeming to favour retirees over serving professionals and seeming to provide jobs for the old boys’ and girls’ network. Public servants who have retired, including principals and deputy principals, took the decision to leave the service. Cash-strapped schools must use what limited resources they have to employ qualified professionals to deliver CPD. Regrettably, there is evidence that some schools are using very scarce finances to engage expensive consultants – including some retired principals – instead of following the logical, prudent, available course of calling upon the Department of Education’s professional CDP service. – Yours, etc,
GERARD P
CRAUGHWELL,
President,
Teachers Union of Ireland,
Orwell Road,
Rathgar, Dublin 6.