THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to remove the book grant scheme from most schools has been condemned by school managers.
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Board (JMB) which manages most second-level schools, has said the decision is “utterly objectionable”.
The October budget removed the grant for all schools bar those which are disadvantaged. The move, labelled as “shameful” by many education groups, will yield savings of €7.5 million this year.
Mr Kelly said all schools had pupils who required support with the purchase of books and essential equipment. “Without access to some form of grant, some pupils will simply be forced into leaving school early . . . we are in grave danger of condemning some of the current pupils to an early exit from formal education.”
Secondary schools report that up to 25 per cent of pupils receive some level of assistance towards the cost of their books each year. Many voluntary secondary schools have over the years established book-rental schemes through assistance from the book grant money.
The JMB annual conference begins today in Killarney.