Acting principals

I READ last week that most of the principals in Fiji are still in acting positions. I am assuming that they are in an interim role and serve as a babysitter or placeholder until a more competent actor comes along or they have to perform better to be confirmed.

May I suggest that the Ministry of Education consider the Certified Practising Principal (CPP) program that is the world’s only independent, professional certification for practising principals seeking to hone their leadership skills.

The certification process is rigorous, well researched and designed by the profession for the profession. Principals walk away with an enhanced ability to think critically about their practice and the tools to institute a long-term strategy for improvements in their schools.

They are awarded certification in recognition of excellence in educational leadership — a valuable accreditation to springboard a career. The CPP award is a formal endorsement that the candidate has demonstrated the Australian Principal Standard in action, based on evidence they have generated and presented themselves.

Being a principal is one of the most demanding and dynamic roles in the education system. The CPP award is designed so it integrates into the workload that principals already manage. Candidates turn this opportunity for growth into tangible school improvements through critical assessment and reflective practice.

For earlier career principals, the CPP award offers the perfect opportunity to set themselves apart from the pack as an emerging leader on a result driven trajectory.

The standard sets out what principals should know and do. The CPP award requires experienced practitioners to show best practice and measure their own performance against the standard and industry leaders.

Principals stand to gain from enriching interactions with a diverse range of peers from beyond their usual sphere of professional activity.

The CPP award lifts the calibre of the profession as a whole by encouraging the use of researchbased practices. At the same time, it supports inspired leadership that fosters a culture of improvement in school communities.

Certification is awarded where supporting evidence and comprehensive reflective analysis demonstrate improved outcomes have been achieved.

Candidates are guided through a thorough process of implementing and monitoring strategies for improvement within their school. The process challenges and stretches their professional practice.

Certification decisions are based on evidence that candidates are implementing practices described in the Australian Professional Standard for Principals.

The CPP award depends on reliable and valid assessment of principals’ demonstration of the principal standard in action. The assessment is rigorous, and quality assured.

Evidence validation is achieved using an independently administered online tool designed specifically for CPP. The implementation and impact of CPP is monitored for ongoing program evaluation.

This prevents promotions based on nepotism. I have heard that some of the acting principals are pretty bad actors.

ARVIND MANI

Nadi