GUIDELINES: a principal's dilemma
One 55-year-old primary school principal, who did not wish to be named, told The Irish Times that he made the decision to leave his post last October. However, he found himself "between a rock and a hard place" because of the Department of Education rules. The principal, who has been at his Leinster school for 34 years,16 as principal, had already agreed with his colleagues and board of management that next year was a good time to relinquish his role.
As there was a vacancy in his school next year, his board of management had proposed giving him the job while taking into account his service at the school. He was aware of several other cases where boards of management had acted similarly.
However, a falling enrolment at his school meant he now faced having to move to a new school in a year's time. "My credibility is at stake. I now have to make a decision within the next couple of weeks," he said.