Soaring education costs lead to ‘fewer schoolbooks’ call

CALLS have been made for changes to taxation policy and a cull in the amount of schoolbooks needed by children as the cost of education continues to soar.

With a survey suggesting that it can cost on average €61,000 to send a student through primary, secondary and third-level education, campaigners have labelled the financial burden astonishing.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) — which last year paid out €3 million to clients towards education costs — has called for the widespread availability of free schoolbooks and for an improved, national book rental scheme.