Mr Forde, who is chairperson of the ASTI Principals and Deputy Principals’ Committee and Principal of St Joseph’s Secondary School in Foxford, Co Mayo, was speaking at an ASTI seminar for principals and deputy principals on March 24. 

“Second-level schools have struggled to survive a school year in which they were unable to fill vacated posts of responsibility. While principals and deputy principals have worked to offset the difficulties caused by the moratorium on posts of responsibility, this is no longer possible.

“A higher than usual number of retirements this September will leave many schools with several vacant posts in the coming school year. A school with 500-1,000 pupils and 35-75 staff members cannot function properly with just a principal and deputy principal carrying out all of the associated management duties,” said Mr Forde. 

He outlined a number of management areas normally supported by teachers with posts of responsibility, including:

• administrative duties,
• the provision of pastoral care support services for students,
• educational planning,
• fulfilling legal obligations.

Mr Forde warned that while a high number of posts of responsibility would be left vacant this September, principals and deputy principals who are members of the ASTI would not be taking on additional duties associated with these posts.

“The imposition of this moratorium was incredibly short sighted. Anyone who understands the complexities of running a modern second-level school could have predicted that this moratorium would grind schools to a halt sooner or later,” said Mr Forde.

“The outgoing Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe stated to the Dáil recently that discussions with the Department of Finance were well advanced with the aim of mitigating the significant difficulties experienced by second-level schools as a result of the moratorium.

“I would urge the new Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan to seek to advance this matter as soon as possible. Principals are throwing their hands up in the air, and many are considering retiring early to escape an impossible situation.”