Media Coverage - NAPD - School Books Scheme
Paul Crone Speaking with Claire Byrne, RTE - Click to listen
Irish Times - Education - Carl O’Brien, Education Editor
Rollout of free schoolbooks for Junior Cycle students ‘in doubt’
More than 80 per cent of principals say necessary supports to navigate procurement process not in place.
School principals have warned that many second-level schools may not be able to roll out the free schoolbooks scheme in time for next September due to inadequate supports around a “complicated procurement process”.
Minister for Education Norma Foley announced recently that more than 200,000 students in the Junior Cycle years – first to third year – would be entitled to free books and ebooks from next September. Parents can expect to save about €300 a year on foot of the initiative.
Paul Crone, Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast Show
Irish Examiner - Education - Sean Murray
Secondary schools at risk of not being able to roll out book scheme in September
Many post-primary schools are at risk of not being able to roll out the School Book Scheme in time for its launch in September, with a large majority of principals saying the necessary supports and information are not in place.
A survey from the National Association of Principals and Deputies (NAPD) found that 83% of principals believe those supports are simply not available.
They said that procurement issues are acting as a “massive stumbling block” and only 36% said they had confidence in their school’s ability to deliver the scheme effectively by September.
