Actual free education! SF wants schoolbooks for all
Delay to plan was a matter of care
SINN Féin is calling for free schoolbooks to be provided for all children.
The back-to-school policy will be launched by the Sinn Féin education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire today.
The policy also recommends that transport be made more flexible and affordable for pupils, new legislation to make uniforms cheaper be introduced and a €140 ‘back-to-school bonus’ be given to people who require State assistance with childcare payments.
The policy document argues that the current system does not meet the constitutional rights to free primary education and that it is in fact a ‘myth’ due to hidden costs.
The document reads: ‘The Constitution enshrines a right to free primary education for all children in Ireland. This fundamental right recognises the importance of education as a means of improving life outcomes for children, and as a way out of poverty for some of the most vulnerable in our society.
‘In spite of this fundamental constitutional protection, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that “free education” in Ireland is a myth. In reality, the hidden costs and fees associated with sending children to school each year place a very real and prohibitive financial burden on parents.’
The Sinn Féin proposal quoted a 2019 Credit Union study that found one-third of parents go into debt over back-to-school costs and that just under one quarter of these go to moneylenders to meet the expenses associated with children’s education.
To end primary and secondary schools reliance on voluntary contributions, Sinn Féin proposes that ‘the Government ensures that there is an adequate increase in capitation to all schools, to cover any additional costs which schools may incur due to Covid-19 in order to ensure no additional costs are passed on to parents’.
The document also proposes that the Government regulates ‘the practice of seeking voluntary contributions’ and that no pupil be denied access to facilities if their parents don’t cough up.
The Department of Education would pay for the free schoolbooks for schoolchildren through the schoolbook rental scheme which is estimated to cost €40million.
The document maintains that school uniforms – which cost, on average €135 for primary school children and €215 for secondary school pupils – could be made cheaper through ‘placing an obligation on schools’ that uniforms are available through multiple sources. In its education blueprint, Sinn Féin also recommends that powers be extended to the Ombudsman for Children to investigate and make recommendations on how to reduce the cost of school uniforms.
The policy document states that free school transport should be prioritised for all children on medical cards and that free travel be introduced for all the other children availing of the School Transport Scheme at a cost of €17million to the taxpayer.
Last week, Sinn Féin expressed concerns about the tight timeframe for the reopening of schools, after the Government unveiled a €375million package of supports which is to include the hiring of 1,080 new teachers and the coronavirus-proofing of schools. Sinn Féin has said that the Government could have announced its reopening plan much sooner.
Education Minister, Norma Foley said the delay was a matter of care, but responding, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that there was plenty of time to prepare.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin hailed his Education Minister for helping to put together what he called the most comprehensive reopening plan for any section of society.