Mayo school to replace schoolbooks with iPads


30 May 2011

A secondary school in Mayo is giving first-year students the option of using an iPad for schoolwork instead of traditional schoolbooks.

According to The Irish Times, St Coleman’s College in Claremorris, Co Mayo, will start bringing iPads into use from this September. All 90 new first-year students will be given the choice to use the tablet for work instead of carrying schoolbooks.

Each iPad will come with a suite of learning apps installed. The package will cost €700, covering the three-year period of the Junior cycle.

School principal Jimmy Finn said the decision was made after several weeks of consultation with teachers, students and parents and that 96pc supported the option.

Finn emphasised that this package was not obligatory, saying that parents could choose between the iPad and schoolbooks.