If the report of the Commission on Education becomes reality, there will finally be a solution to the pressing director shortage in Flemish education. The proposal to no longer permanently appoint headmasters so that the position is not automatically retained throughout the rest of their careers is innovative. It lowers the threshold for teachers to take up the job of school leader and makes the position more attractive. That is why we are in favour.
High turnover and few applicants
Because while most people are wide awake about the teacher shortage and falling PISA results, Flemish education has been struggling for far too long with another underexposed challenge, namely filling bottleneck vacancies for principals. Due to high turnover and scarce numbers of applicants, school boards are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit a suitable new board member. Our research within the Future-Driven Education research centre at KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts already showed it: we need to work on the attractiveness and feasibility of the job of school leaders. So hooray for the report of the Commission, which responds to this and comes up with a lot of strong innovative advice, such as the mandate for school leaders. With this mandate, a headmaster is no longer permanently appointed, but the position is taken up for a period of six years each time. Whereas the report previously highlighted the opportunities this offers for evaluating the school leader's performance and ending the mandate if desired, we would like to put this idea in a different light here.
Lowering the threshold
Our research shows that there is an idea-fixe among teachers regarding the job of school director, in particular that this is something you have to sustain until retirement. Or still: something you do at the end of your career. This discourages candidates from starting it 'too early' or starting it anyway. The mandate of 6 years, now under discussion, makes the threshold to apply for the job of school leader lower. It would win over a lot of doubtful and younger candidates. Knowing that after six years there is a momentum anyway to take stock, together with the board, and decide whether to continue or return to the classroom, offers a lot of breathing space. You don't have to lose face, but you don't have to disappoint your team either. They are prepared for it and know it is an option. This way, moreover, your succession can be well prepared, so there is no need to rush to find a new school leader.
It's OK to return to the classroom
Moreover, it is an asset that this advice from the committee goes hand in hand with the proposal to keep the permanent teacher appointment. In this way, we normalise the idea that you take on the incredibly important task of school leader for a certain period of time, but that after that it is also just okay to return to the classroom. Or do something else. So also in terms of thinking about other, attractive career choices (after the school leader job), there are still a lot of possibilities. A real revolution in Flemish school policy can happen if the advice of the Commission does not remain a mere advice. It is what our education system in Flanders needs. Nothing less will suffice.
Want to know more, collaborate or have a press enquiry?
You can collaborate with our research centre Future-driven Education on topics such as:
- Support for qualitative education starting from the (metropolitan) context.
- Expertise in sustainable education, school leadership, and diversity competences of school teams.
Contact us without obligation
Call +32 3 613 10 78
E-mail haydee.deloof@kdg.be