I gave my Higher Level Fifth Year English class the article “Opposing Tesco’s ‘Computers for Schools’ Voucher Scheme” for the reading comprehension section of their summer exam. Question 3 asked “What are your thoughts on these schemes?”

Here is a selection of student responses:

Student 1
I feel this is hugely unfair and no parent should be put under pressure to gain facilities for their school.

Student 2
To be honest, I never really thought about this voucher scheme, but from reading this extract, I now believe it to be an outrage […] The Tesco company should be ashamed of themselves.

Student 3
I believe there is something corrupt about the way in which supermarkets operate to gain sales. […] It shocks and appalls me. (more…)

Below is the text of a letter sent to a number of local and national newspapers. So far, the Campaign for a Commercial-free Education is aware of it having been printed in five papers (in the Wicklow, Kildare, Tipperary, and Mayo regions). If you know of it having been printed anywhere else, please leave a comment (and link to the article, if possible).

Wicklow Times 02/04/08 Article

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In 2006 Tesco asked auction website eBay to stop people selling its Computers for Schools vouchers - but eBay said the sales are quite legal. The practice continues today.

See the 2006 report from BBC News.

The Campaign for Commercial-Free Education has condemned Tesco’s “Computers for Schools” voucher scheme as exploitative and discriminatory and said it will further widen the gap between rich and poor schools as highlighted on last week’s Prime Time programme.

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The Irish National Teachers Organisation, the largest teachers’ union in Ireland, has encouraged its 34,000 members not to participate in supermarket Voucher collection schemes. General Secretary John Carr said “Schools should be free from proof of purchase incentive schemes. The presence of voucher collection boxes, ‘target charts’, promotional posters and letters of appeal for vouchers is unacceptable advertising in schools.”

See RTE News coverage of Kids in Action launch and INTO criticism.

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NI schools to receive 20,000 laptops (From SiliconRepublic)

Every school in Northern Ireland will receive brand new laptops before June 2008 under a new programme being rolled out by the Department of Education.

Click here to read the full story.