asked the Minister for Education if his Department can regularise the syllabus in vocational and second level schools with a view to enabling parents to re-cycle text books.
Written Answers. - Schools Text Books.
557.
I assume that what the Deputy has in mind is the opportunity for the use of text books by different members of a family. In providing for the various syllabi at second level my Department are conscious of the need to avoid over frequent changes in essential texts. Only a small percentage of text books are prescribed by my Department and most of these are repeated in rotation, generally in a three to four year cycle.
In regard to "unprescribed" text books, my Department have directed the attention of the school authorities concerned to the desirability of changing those books as infrequently as possible. Some text books must be changed from time to time, however, if teachers are to keep their work educationally stimulating, and if content and methodology are to be kept reasonably up to date.