Mary Harney
Question:16 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she proposes to take to assist in overcoming barriers to promotion for women teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6688/96]
Vol. 463 No. 5
16 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she proposes to take to assist in overcoming barriers to promotion for women teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6688/96]
The report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women concluded that the fact that so few lay women 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.