There are new places popping up that will copy the school crest and sew it onto a jumper for you for relatively very cheap.

If they got rid of the crests that are already sown onto jumpers which prevents parents being able to buy cheaper uniforms from supermarkets they could save a lot of money. Buy shoes from dunnes or somewhere not an actual shoe shop and you’ll save a lot of money. Don’t pay the voluntary contribution, the more people that pay it the more they will ask for, education is supposed to be free.

I was the younger of six,and any book I needed was handed down.you cannot do this today,were been ripped off and possibly some schools get a little back from publishers! why do we need new history books all the time? does history change from term to term? 1+1=2,pretty standard teaching with blackboard and chalk.and inglsh is chging al’de time,so drop “de bard”! rip off a Ireland is alive and well,and fumbles in a greasy till!

When I was at school, back on Earth, the school provided the textbooks, the parents provided the uniform and odd payments for trips and so on.

Sure, the blazer, jumper and tie (and at one point cap) had to come from the local schools outfitter but the rest was just bought, you know, in shops.

Why is it so different on planet Ireland?

For one thing, refuse to pay “Voluntary Contributions” requested every year….These are voluntary and do not have to be paid no matter how much pestering from Principals & teachers….Tell them to go to Ruari Quinn’s Education Dept…Also post any correspondence requesting such contributions to Ruari’s office in the Dail, tell him to pay it…!!!

I heard about it thru Facebook! I don’t remember what it was called though im sure if you googled it…im pretty sure it was down the country but it can’t be the only one! I’ll go on google now and have a look-ill be back:-)

first one that came up-abbey badges on baggot street, there could’ve been loads others though! They’ll reproduce any crest and you can get it as iron on!!

The cost is ridiculous. But it is up to schools to look at this.
I cannot understand why all schools do not have book rental. I’ve taught in 3 schools and all have had book rental. There is NO reason why all schools can’t. It can be a pain for teachers if there’s a better book but no reason why we can copy what’s needed and continue to use their book. Also the VEC school I currently work in dropped the voluntary contribution this year. If parents don’t have it, they can’t give it. Schools must be reasonable.

The whole thing is the usual sham and ripp-off, constitutionally you gave the right to a free education. And that’s where it should stop. Bulk purchasing by the education department, should sort out copy books, pencils and the like. Likewise a stable curriculum across every school with bulk purchasing of books every four years should sort out the regular text books for all subjects. The rest they can download if its that quirky and new. While there at it have regular start and finish times so that people can get to and from the very job that’s supporting the kid whilst at school, and not least, stop these regular ‘off school’ days for some excuse or another. . . . rant over . . .

Make school uniforms voluntary or get rid of them altogether

School uniforms should be abolished. We no longer live in the conservative era. Paying extra for a uniform costs between €70 and €130 a year. Aldi currently have brilliant priced offers.