Primary school principals are raising their concerns about underfunding and the pressures they face in Irish schools. The Primary Principals Forum highlights that 60% of primary principals are required to teach in addition to their administrative duties, leading to burnout and job fatigue. They are calling for more funding to align Ireland with the OECD average, citing the need to cover rising costs and reduce reliance on parent fundraising.
In a meeting at Leinster House, the forum also emphasized the need for increased administrative time for teaching principals and addressed issues with Special Education Needs supports, grant aid for school staff wages, and resources for schools integrating refugee and asylum-seeking children.
With more than a dozen principals in attendance, the group stresses the importance of parents being informed about government decisions impacting their children’s education. The forum’s advocacy seeks to better support school leaders and improve the overall education system in Ireland.
