In recent years many improvements have been made to enable principal teachers in primary schools to perform their administrative duties. Up until the 1999-2000 school year, principals were released from teaching duties to become an administrative principal where the school had a staffing of eight or more mainstream class teachers. From the commencement of the 2000-01 school year, administrative principals were appointed to ordinary schools with seven mainstream class teachers. In addition, schools with a lesser number of mainstream class teachers but with 11 or more teachers when ex-quota posts were counted were allowed appoint an additional teacher to facilitate the release of the principal from teaching duties to become an administrative principal. Since the 2002-03 school year, administrative principals may be appointed to such schools where there are nine or more teachers when ex-quota posts are counted.
The scheme of release time for principals was also introduced for the 2000-01 school year. This scheme enables teaching principals of primary schools to be released from their teaching duties for a specified number of days annually to undertake administrative, leadership and management functions. The number of days' release time granted is determined by the number of mainstream class teachers in the school as outlined in primary circular 25/02. Paid substitution is approved by my Department for the days that principals are on release time.
Arising from the implementation of the PCW agreement, significant improvements were introduced to the management structure of primary schools through the allocation of additional posts of responsibility. It is a matter for the boards of management of schools to delegate functions to the posts of responsibility holders. My Department is engaged in the development of a computerised on-line system for the submission of claims for the payment of certain categories of teachers. Work on this project has formally commenced and the implementation of this system is expected to further assist principal teachers in the performance of their administrative duties.
My Department is involved in ongoing discussion with teachers' representatives concerning the conditions of service of primary teachers.
