asked the Minister for Education if any consultations will take place between his Department and school authorities at primary and post-primary level to ensure that full school text book lists are available in the early Summer, to enable pupils to purchase texts in advance of the September school opening.
Written Answers. - School Text Book Lists.
17.
So far as national schools are concerned, a new curriculum was introduced some seven years ago and necessitated the provision of new school books in many subjects. An adequate number of such texts have been published over the years and a comprehensive list furnished to every school. No change in these texts is anticipated for some years to come.
As a rule, teachers in national schools give children a book list before the school closes for the Summer holidays. Indeed, it is quite common for teachers to collect money from pupils to purchase whatever texts are deemed necessary for their particular classes and supply them to the pupils at the beginning of the school year. There is regular on-going consultation between the Department and teachers and Managers in regard to these matters.
The selection of text books for post-primary schools is a matter for the individual school authorities. In relation to the texts prescribed for examinations, my Department have arrangements whereby two years' advance notice is given to schools.
My Department issue a circular letter annually to the school authorities to remind them, inter alia, of the importance of giving as much advance notice as possible to pupils and parents regarding text books required for the next school year.