The Federal and state and territory governments need to go back to the drawing board on principals’ standards according to the Independent Education Union.
The Federal, State and Territory Education Ministers meeting in Canberra today announced that the National Professional Standard for Principals will shortly begin being rolled out nationally.
The IEU Federal Secretary, Chris Watt said, the national standard for principals is a vital reform and needs to be done properly, and there seems to be little change in the draft standards document released in February.
“It is hard not to think that the consultation and piloting process has just a rubber stamp, and that important work has been left half done.
“We are calling on the Government to reexamine the standard involving principals’ personal qualities and interpersonal skills, with more emphasis and recognition given to the importance and centrality of relationships with students, teachers, and the wider community.
In the ‘Personal Qualities and Social and Interpersonal Skills’ recommendation the only changes from the draft to today’s final version are; deleted the word “attributes”; inserted “resilience”; exchanged “personal wellbeing” for “compassion”; and added “its community”.
In the ‘Three School Leadership Requirements’ section the sum total of the all other changes amounted to adding three more words.
The IEU does however welcome the proper recognition of indigenous issues in the Professional Practices section.
“We agree with the premise of having national standards for our schools’ leadership, but you can’t help but feel that the Government hasn’t taken onboard the recommendations from the people who know best, the principals themselves.
“The IEU does welcome the $38 million investment in our school principals to help them develop and improve their skills and leadership capacities,” said Chris Watt.