Teachers and principals in Ireland could soon be subject to annual reviews of their performance.

Harold Hislop, the chief inspector at the Department of Education and Skills, has raised the possibility of such assessments for school staff after noting the country does not have a system in place that regularly evaluates how well teachers are getting on, the Irish Independent reports.

Mr Hislop observed that other professions, such as those in the civil and public service, adopt annual performance management review systems - yet the inspections carried out by the Department of Education tend to be less narrowly focused.

Speaking at an Irish European Union presidency conference in Dublin, Mr Hislop explained proposed performance assessments for teachers and principals would not serve as "hard accountability, but to foster genuine improvement for the individual and school".

He also pointed out that principals in Ireland do not receive any regular formal appraisals, nor do they have to adhere to any performance contracts.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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