Diagnosis of the current problems of principals

Abstract

Different studies coincide in pointing out the importance of a good school management to improve the learning. Being aware of the problems the principals have to face daily, should be useful not only to give them more support, but also to prepare training programs for them based on the reality of educational institutions. The aim of this project is to investigate how the problems identified in previous decades affect the current principal, determining which of them are still valid and which of the tasks and accountabilities set out in the regulations mean a problem. In order to find out the answer we passed out a questionnaire, elaborated ad-hoc, to a representative number of headmasters: 242 principals of primary and secondary public schools belonging to Barcelona Comarcas regional office in Catalonia. The theory shows the poor training they have traditionally received to become principals and at the same time the poor training they believe to have. The results confirm current problems such as excessive amount of work, low training received, breach of contract by their teachers and lack of support by the administration. The tasks related to pedagogical leadership, organisation of the centre and personnel management are (in the mentioned order) the most difficult ones to carry out. Possible solutions involve helping the principals with their professional development, based on a specific training in competences related to pedagogical leadership and interpersonal relationships and also providing them with optimum power of decision and autonomy.