I am very concerned to ensure that the impact of the cost of school books and uniforms for children from low income families is minimised to the greatest extent possible.
Individual school authorities are responsible for drawing up school rules, including requirements in relation to wearing school uniforms. The formulation of school policy for wearing a uniform should allow for prior consultation with teachers, parents and pupils, where appropriate. Equally, such policies should also allow for feedback from parents and for any concerns about issues such as cost to be raised.
The back to school footwear and clothing allowance, available through the community welfare officers of the health boards, is designed to assist certain recipients of social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. My Department is represented on the group, which is currently reviewing this allowance as part of the ongoing civil service wide series of expenditure reviews.
I am aware that costs associated with the purchase of school books can place a financial burden on parents. To alleviate this burden, my Department operates a scheme of aid towards the cost of school books for second level pupils from low income families. Principal teachers administer the scheme in schools in a flexible way, based on their knowledge of particular circumstances in individual cases. I appreciate the sensitive, responsive and resourceful manner in which the management and staff of schools, particularly the principals, operate the scheme.
A consultancy report, which was submitted to my Department in 1993, dealt with the factors which contribute to the cost of school textbooks. The main conclusion of the report was that book rental schemes are the most practical way of limiting the cost of schoolbooks to parents. The report, copies of which were sent to all schools, contains a number of useful suggestions, including a code of good practice, for the successful operation of book rental schemes. My Department endorses the recommendations and urges school authorities to put in place book rental schemes to the greatest extent possible. My Department also provides seed capital towards the costs of establishing book rental schemes in disadvantaged schools.
At second level, in 2000, a total of £4.5 million was allocated in aid towards the cost of schoolbooks.