Helen Keogh
Question:19 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the measures, if any, she considers appropriate to overcome the barriers to promotion of female teachers to principalships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18764/95]
Written Answers. - Female Principals.
Micheál Martin
Question:46 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education her views on the low number of female principals within the education system and the trends which seem to indicate that a decreasing number of female teachers are being appointed to principalships; and if she will commission a study to examine the reason so few female teachers become principals in the Irish primary and post-primary school system. [18709/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 46 together.
The report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women concluded that the fact that so few lay female teachers become principals is a result, in part, of a lack of experience of interviewing by selection boards. In particular, the Commission pointed to a lack of sensitivity to gender issues on the part of selection boards.
The Commission also noted that most teachers believed that being male is an advantage in securing a promotion. Only a small number believed that being female is helpful in securing a promotion.
I am concerned at the low number of female principals relative to male principals. However, I should point out that, at primary level, matters are improving. In 1994, for instance, 59 per cent of appointments to principalships in primary schools were women. At present, 46 per cent of principals at primary level are women.
I accept, however, that given that some three-quarters of primary school teachers are women, they continue to be under-represented as principals in this sector.
At second-level, the percentage of female principals has dropped from 32 per cent in 1991/92 to 30 per cent at present, in a teaching force of which 67 per cent are women.
I wish to assure the Deputies that this matter is already being considered in my Department. All the recent research in this area is being studied in this context.
In addition, the White Paper on Education,Charting our Education Future, states that the principal will be selected on the basis of procedures prescribed by the Department of Education following consultation with the relevant interests. Officials of my Department will shortly commence discussions with the partners in education regarding revised selection procedures for the appointment of principal teachers. All the issues emerging will be taken into account in these discussions. In particular, adequate representation of both sexes on selection boards and an awareness of gender equality issues by members of boards will be addressed as part of these discussions.