How to Become a School Principal

About School Principal

A professional who leads a school and manages all the activities associated with the administration of a school is regarded as School Principal. From maintaining the discipline to handling administrative, financial and academic activities of a school, it is the school principal who plays a dominant part. He/ she is also responsible for hiring teachers and play a vital role in promoting quality education. A school principal is also responsible for developing the school with innovative ideas and activities that attract not only students but also parents. Increasing the number of admissions with good administration lies with the school principal. Obtaining a relevant degree is not enough to become a school principal, and the candidates require necessary experience and skills. It is the most respectable position in society. For all those who are aspiring to become a school principal, we have explained the career path in a detailed manner. Have a look!

Eligibility to become School Principal

The eligibility criteria and requirements that are necessary to become a School Principal are given below -

• B.Ed degree is mandatory to become a school principal. 
• Candidates who have passed Integrated B.Ed such as B.A+B.Ed/ B.Sc+B.Ed are eligible
• Candidates who have passed Diploma in Elementary Education (D.Ed) are eligible to become school principal for primary section. 
• Apart from the above qualification, the candidates must have at least 5-10 years of experience in teaching.
• Candidates who have passed M.Ed are also eligible to take up the post of School Principal. 

How and When to Start?

• If your aim is to become a school principal, then you should start planning for the same right from Class 12th.
• Since B.Ed is the mandatory degree for this profession, it is advisable to choose a degree course, i.e., B.A, B.Sc or B.Com.
• Since B.Ed fee structure is high, you can choose these degree courses so that the expenses on education will be less.
• After completing the degree, join B.Ed. If you are looking for a government job in teaching, you will have to clear the CTET/ TET exams conducted by CBSE/ state governments.
• Only the TET qualified candidates will be considered eligible for teaching. You can get placed in government schools by clearing the TRT (Teacher Recruitment Test)
• You will have to obtain at least 5-10 years of teaching experience. Meanwhile, you can complete M.Ed.
• Based on your experience and educational qualification, you can compete for School Principal posts ion government schools. There is a separate recruitment process for that. State governments will issue official notification for the same. 

Types of Job Roles School Principal

Some of the major job roles for a School Principal are given below: -

School Principal: A School Principal is the head of a school who is responsible for managing the overall functioning of the school, along with day to day activities at school such as hiring teacher, managing the budget, managing disciplinary activities, etc.

Professor: A Professor is a person who is responsible for teaching the students at College/University level. The professors provide theoretical and practical knowledge to the students in a specific subject area they are expert at.

Teacher: A Teacher is a professional who teaches students at the primary or secondary level schools. The teachers are responsible for teaching students the basic concepts of subjects at the secondary education level.

Educational Consultant: Educational Consultants are the professional who is responsible to provide suggestions to the students for better academic performance and also help them to tackle the issues related to education.

Instructional Coordinator: Instructional Coordinators are the professionals who are responsible for overseeing the teaching standards and school curriculum. They are responsible for developing the instructional material, employ it and check for its implementation efficiency.

Employment Sector/Industry for School Principal

Some of the industries or employment sectors for School Principles are given below: -

• Government Schools

• Elementary Schools

• Private Schools

• Public Schools

Top Recruiting Companies/ Agencies/ Organizations

Top recruiting companies/ agencies/ organizations for a School Principal are given below:

• The Shri Ram School, Delhi, and Gurgaon

• The Sanskaar Valley School, Bhopal

• Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School, Jaipur

• Little Angels High School, Gwalior

• Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad

Pay Scale/Salary of School Principal

The pay scale for a School Principal depends upon the type of School and experience of the professional. The average pay scale for a School Principal on the basis of experience level is given in the table below:

Note: The salary structure mentioned above is indicative only and is subject to change unconditionally.

Books & Study Material to Become School Principal

Some of the popular books and study material for a School Principal is given below:

• Mindset by Carol Dweck

• The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact

• Creative Schools: Revolutionizing Education from the Ground Up

• Educating Ruby: What Our Children Really Need to Learn

Pros of becoming a School Principal

• High Paying Job

• Full control over the Management

• Opportunity to face new challenges every day

Cons of becoming a School Principal

• Greater responsibility can lead to stress

• Need to attend every school event

• Higher politics