The government is introducing free schoolbooks to primary school students in their efforts to combat the cost of living crisis.
Primary school students will be able to avail of schoolbooks, alongside workbooks and copies, free of charge from September onwards. The scheme is being introduced to ease the financial burdens facing families at the beginning of the school year.
The government is set to invest €50 million in the programme. It is an expansion of the free school book pilot, which is currently in effect in over 100 Deis schools.
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Minister for Education Norma Foley said: “By providing our primary school children with free school books, we are enhancing their educational experience, not just in the classroom but reaching out into the family home."
The scheme allocates ownership of the books to the schools themselves, meaning items must be returned at the end of the academic year. Schools will also receive a grant from the Department of Education, which can be used to employ someone to carry out the administrative work needed for the scheme.
The initiative will also be implemented in schools that cater for special needs students. Teaching staff will inform parents of how the scheme will work in individual schools.
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