It is time to hold principals to a higher standard

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A recent letter to The Gleaner’s editor penned by a Ms. Andrea O’Conner has brought into focus, a perennial problem that has exacerbated the dysfunction in too many of our schools.

To date, teachers have borne the brunt of accountability from a number of stakeholders including our Government. The time has come to hold principals to a higher standard.

Too often, some principals who have scant regard for some Ministry of Education policies, are rarely held to account. After years, principals and aspiring principals have been provided with cutting edge and targeted leadership training via the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), I now have to wonder how effective the college has been.

Then again, it could be that there are principals who have not gone through the NCEL programme. It’s full time for the Ministry of Education to tailor a more invasive accountability programme for principals.

Erratic, dogmatic, insensitive, and bully principals should be identified and provided with a corrective and developmental experience. If however, the crude leadership persists, separation procedures should be initiated. Those who are entrusted with leadership responsibilities in our school system should lead with instructional expertise, provide constructive feedback in order to facilitate teacher growth, and “empower teachers by delegating responsibilities and involving them in decision-making processes.”

DR RICHARD

KITSON-WALTERS