The extent of principals’ distress shown in the latest NZEI principals’ wellbeing survey is disturbing, says NZSTA President Lorraine Kerr. Although it comes as no surprise for boards of trustees generally that school principals are often under stress, and that this does impact on their health and general; wellbeing, many will be aware of it more as an issue they are trying to resolve in their own school rather than a system-level failure.

The results of the latest NZEI survey are compelling, and reinforce what we have all been hearing at national level for a number of years. The national body for boards of trustees, NZSTA has been working with principals’ groups, teacher unions and Ministry officials on strategies to resolve the workload, resourcing and situational issues that contribute to the pressure on principals becoming intolerable.

While some issues are being addressed in the context of collective bargaining, Lorraine Kerr believes that the underlying causes are systemic and also need to be addressed in the current Tomorrow’s Schools review.

In the meantime, boards with concerns about how to support their principals’ health and wellbeing are encouraged to contact the NZSTA Advice and Support Centre on 0800 782 435 or eradvice@nzsta.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media