Free primary school books

woody1970

My daughter is at primary school but the school still want 50euros for photocopy, homework journal and art stuff, and I have to buy her a calculator, maths stuff and pritt sticks. My question is , I thought it was covered under the new grant?

Big Bag of Chips

Books are covered, not everything else.

We got a stationary list that includes all of the stuff you listed above plus the €50.

Str8outtaWuhan

Tbh OP if be more concerned your primary school uses calculators!!

byhookorbycrook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053002#Comment_121053002

Children may use calculators from 4th class up for some aspects of maths. They are even used in the standardized (Drumcondra/Sigma) tests for some parts.

I wonder how many people are aware that the IT grant which was supposed to part of the digital strategy for schools was withdrawn and the money put into books. School will need to find the funding for that instead- and who will get hit for that? Parents- again.

Str8outtaWuhan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053682#Comment_121053682

"May" , I'd question any teacher and school who would introduce a calculator in primary. Just looking through a master Ur maths 6 here and not a single question would require beyond basic arithmetic. Shameful schools being lazy.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311683/free-primary-school-books

Photocopying, art stuff and things like journals can't be reused and passed on next year to other pupils, so not free under the free books scheme.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053725#Comment_121053725

I'd imagine waiting for 30+ kids in an overcrowded classroom to finish up doing some maths to be fairly time consuming, I don't think laziness comes into it. Kids learn to use calculators and tablets/computers in primary, moving with the times and away from the abacus.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054392#Comment_121054392

It's a voluntary contribution and not a requirement.

My kids secondary school has a fixed payment for locker , insurance, journal and states in its documentation that the 50e for photocopy etc is purely voluntary. Norma Foley has said the same on TV in recent weeks.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054395#Comment_121054395

A voluntary contribution is a totally different request to payment for photocopying and art supplies payment.

Can you point me to where NF specifically says photocopying is part of the voluntary contribution that is voluntary? Link please.

Str8outtaWuhan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054395#Comment_121054395

No contribution, no journal. Journal acts like passport in secondary afaik.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054402#Comment_121054402

The letter we received from the secondary says it's voluntary. Primary letter doesn't make that distinction.

NF said it on the six one news and said it's legislated for.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054437#Comment_121054437

Fixed payment is locker, journal, insurance, phone pouch.

Voluntary is everything else for the secondary school.

crossman47

Surely parents should have to pay something towards their child's education. Now the demand is for free books at secondary level. Where will it end?

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054974#Comment_121054974

Does she specifically state legislation is for voluntary contributions, which is school costs like heating and maintenance,or for voluntary contributions and personal fees such as photocopying and art supplies, journals etc.

Can you point me in the direction where this is now in written legislation?

My kids schools ask for both, but there's a distinction in the request.

Some people expect to pay for absolutely nothing, which is wrong.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055745#Comment_121055745

If you put in a request to the Ministers Office I'm sure she'll provide you with the link to the legislation

As for paying for nothing. My eldest started secondary this week. Without a copy book or pen it cost me €1000.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055831#Comment_121055831

Please don't state something when you cannot back it up with correct links and information. Clearly you took what you heard and swung it to your own liking.

For €1k that seems reasonable for first year. It evens out after that as you buy very little after that until 5th year.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056464#Comment_121056464

I also read a letter from my son's school which is quiet clear regarding voluntary contributions for stationary, art, photocopying etc.

I'm not here to defend NF.

byhookorbycrook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053725#Comment_121053725

I will give you the benefit of the doubt, though it looks close to a trolling attempt. Your issue is with the NCCA and the DES. Schools don't set the curriculum.

https://ncca.ie/media/4085/helping_your_child_in_third_and_fourth_classes.pdf

mrGoody308

I understand your concern. The costs for photocopies, homework journals, and art supplies can add up. It's worth checking with the school to clarify whether these expenses should be covered by the new grant. It's essential to ensure that you're receiving all the support available to you.

witchgirl26

The new grant is just for the actual books & not for any other materials. My son is in Junior Infants this year & we were asked to pay €50 to cover all stationary, photocopying etc for the year which doesn't seem too bad. Especially as we don't have to get him any of it ourselves. Only thing we have to supply is a school bag, water bottle & lunch box (& the lunch as well!).

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121054974#Comment_121054974

The minister made it clear that in some schools there may be a charge for photocopying, stationery etc depending on how the allocation for free books pans out in particular schools. This is distinct from the voluntary payments.

pooch90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121053725#Comment_121053725

See page 13 of the maths curriculum. Not laziness at all.

https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/9df5f3c5-257b-471e-8d0f-f2cf059af941/PSEC02_Mathematics_Curriculum.pdf