Free Text-Books

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30445, 20 May 1964, Page 16

Free Text-Books

Sir, —1 would, like to know why free text-books are not provided for night-school pupils should they* be doing School Certificate and University Entrance. Text-books are very expensive for students- who are on low wages, and are at times even’ hard to get. As there students often give- their recfeation, to study for . their chosen careers, .any help that can be given would, I think, be made use of to the full.— ■ Yours etc., DISILLUSIONED NATIONALIST. May 10, 1964. [The Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) replies: “Under the Government’s policy, books are provided free to pupils at primary and postprimary schools. These pupils are not wage-earners and the books are provided to lighten the financial load on their parents. Evening-class students are generally earning their own livelihood and are in a better position to meet some of the cost of their studies. A further point is that it would be unreasonable to provide books for students

taking one or two particular courses only and not. extend the privilege to people undertaking other courses. Th.e subjects offered at evening classes in State schools cover a very wide range, indeed, many of them leading towards Professional qualifications, and the cost of providing textbooks free of charge for all evening classes would be prohibitive”]