asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the role, responsibility and authority of a principal teacher.
Written Answers. - Principal Teacher Responsibilities.
152.
My Department's Circular 16/73, which was issued to school authorities in May 1973, described the duties and responsibilities of principal teacher of national schools. I have arranged that copies of this document will be placed in the Oireachtas Library.
As secondary schools are private institutions, the role, responsibility and authority of school principals are matters for school management. In the voluntary secondary school sector, my Department requires principals to be fully qualified teachers and, in schools with less than 60 pupils enrolled, to teach classes for 10 hours per week. In larger schools, the principal is not required by my Department to do class teaching.
The role, responsibility and authority of a principal teacher in a community or comprehensive school are prescribed by the board of management concerned. In regard to the permanent whole-time post of principal teacher of a vocational school my Department's Memorandum V7, Appendix E (ii) (Draft Conditions of Service for Principal Teacher) specifies the following duties: (i) to be responsible under the Chief Executive Officer for the organisation, discipline and administration of the vocational school; (ii) to engage in teaching the number of hours per session specified in section 16.7 of Memorandum V7 (as amended by my Department's Circular Letter 1/75); (iii) to comply with lawful orders of the Committee and its Chief Executive Officer and with the rules and requirements of the Minister for Education.