Dublin: Hildegard Naughton has written to school principals across Ireland urging them not to place financial pressure on parents by requiring students to purchase tablets, laptops and other digital devices.
The minister’s intervention follows growing concerns raised by parents about the increasing costs associated with digital learning requirements in schools. Many parents had appealed to the Department of Education to step in and help reduce the financial burden on families.
In her letter, Naughton clarified that students in the junior and senior cycles are not required to own personal laptops or digital devices in order to participate effectively in education.
The minister also referred to research conducted by the Department of Education, which found that simply providing access to digital technology does not automatically lead to improved educational outcomes.
Concerns Over Financial Pressure on Families
While decisions regarding the use of digital technology remain under the authority of individual school boards, the minister noted that some schools have introduced mandatory digital device requirements for students.
According to the department, certain schools have entered into arrangements with third-party suppliers for the purchase of devices, while others have encouraged families to use commercial credit or payment schemes to cover the costs.
The minister warned that such arrangements can place significant financial strain on households, especially families already facing cost-of-living pressures.
Naughton advised schools to engage more carefully with parents before introducing policies that require significant spending on technology.
She urged school management boards to consider the views not only of parent associations but also of families who may not be represented in such groups and who could be disproportionately affected by the costs.
Irish Samachar English News