Funding shortage making my job impossible, says primary head

A PRIMARY school principal has said his job has become “impossible” due to a lack of funds.

Dr Graham Gault (right), of Maghaberry Primary School, said he had spent many days sitting with his head in his hands due to shortages.

He said the sector was crying out for leadership and the outcome of the General Election had to be the formation of a new power-sharing executive.

“Every politician sympathises on a local level, but local councillors saying positive things isn’t what we need. What we need is a functioning Executive. We need this immediately and it has to be a result of the General Election,” he said.

His warning came after the Education Authority (EA) said some schools could do “no more” to make savings.

EA head Sara Long wrote to all principals acknowledging their “growing frustration” over funding.

EA figures show that more than 450 schools in Northern Ireland were unable to balance their books this year.

“We realise that for some schools, there is no more that can be done to affect further savings,” Ms Long wrote.

Dr Gault, who is the vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and gave evidence to Westminster’s Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on education funding last year, said parents were still having to contribute basic essentials toward the running of his school.

In November, NAHT head teachers and school leaders voted for industrial action short of striking.