12 Nov 2013, 18:07
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection will tomorrow hear from a range of perspectives on a recent Committee Report on back to school costs.
12 November 2013
The Committee will engage with representatives from the Department of Education and Skills; the Joint Managerial Body, and National Parents Councils (Primary and Post Primary) on how the recommendations contained in the report might be implemented.
Published in June, the report recommended the banning of workbooks, the introduction of strict controls on voluntary contributions, the establishment of finance committees in school communities and the introduction of generic school uniforms. It called for the establishment of book rental schemes, provision for which was made in Budget 2014 at primary level. Following through on another of the report's recommendations, Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn yesterday announced plans to give parents a greater say on school uniform policy.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “Tomorrow’s meeting represents a timely opportunity to engage with key stakeholders a number of months on from the publication of the Committee’s report on curbing back to school costs. Committee outlined a series of practical steps that can be taken to reduce the cost of equipping children for school at primary and secondary levels.
“Underpinning the report was the need for a fundamental culture change at the heart of Irish education. With the commencement of the school year and the allocation of €5 million for school book rental schemes at primary level in Budget 2014, it is opportune to assess the progress made so far in the area and barriers that remain in delivering a system of genuinely free education.”
Separately, the Committee will meet with Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD, in advance of the next EU Education and Youth Council to be held in Brussels later in the month.
Deputy Tuffy continues: “Tomorrow, Minister Quinn will address our committee on the approach he proposes to take at the forthcoming EU Education and Youth Council. A policy debate on open educational resources and digital learning is scheduled, with the aim of increasing the levels of pupils in European schools that are digitally equipped. In an insightful address to EU Education Committee Chairs during the Irish EU Presidency, Minister Quinn warned of the dangers of educationalists being 'seduced by technology' rather than trying to understand the role of digital tools in complementing good teaching practice.
“The meeting in Brussels is also expected to adopt Council conclusions in the areas of both leadership in school education and the European third level education in a global context. The exchange of views with the Minister tomorrow affords our cross party Committee an opportunity to contribute our views on EU policy in these important areas.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 13 November at 1pm in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed here.
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Committee Membership
Deputy Joanna Tuffy - Chair
Deputies James Bannon, Ray Butler, Joan Collins, Clare Daly, Brendan Griffin , Jim Daly, Derek Keating, Charlie McConalogue, Nicky McFadden, Jonathan O’Brien, Willie O’Dea, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Brendan Ryan
Senators Terry Brennan, Jim D'Arcy, Marie Moloney, Mary Moran, Marie-Louise O’Donnell, Averil Power