Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Books.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

152 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education the way in which she allowed unnecessary expenses to be incurred by her decision, made two weeks into the 1995-96 school year, when certain books were withdrawn from the 1996-97 curriculum after the books had been purchased by parents, teachers, pupils and others. [15603/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The intention of revising the structure and content of the senior cycle from September 1995 was conveyed to school authorities in 1993.

In May 1995, as a result of action taken by the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, ASTI, and the Teachers' Union of Ireland. TUI, it appeared that it would not be possible to provide for the inservice education of teachers necessary for the successful introduction of the new programmes. Accordingly, on 31 May 1995, I informed the education partners and schools that it would be necessary to postpone the introduction of the senior cycle changes.

As a result of progress in negotiations with the ASTI and the TUI during the summer of this year and following consultations between my Department and the representative associations of school authorities, teachers, parents and other interested parties on the practical aspects of the matter, it was agreed that the reforms would commence in September 1995. This decision was conveyed to schools, at the earliest opportunity, on 8 August 1995.

There was an urgency about the introduction of the revised syllabuses in 1995 in the subjects in question because the former syllabuses had become out-moded and because that group of subjects represented the first phase in a general revision of the senior cycle programme to be implemented over a period of years. Deferral this year could have had the effect of postponing the whole phasing process. I was, therefore, anxious to proceed with the reforms that had been planned for this year but did not decide to do so until I had satisfied myself through consultations with the parties concerned that this would be possible and practical.

When I announced my decision to proceed with the reforms, some schools and parents informed me that they had purchased textbooks based on the former syllabuses. The Irish Educational Publishers' Association subsequently announced that its members would be prepared to exchange these books, provided they had been maintained in mint condition, for books for the new syllabuses.