Parents of children attending a Co Meath post-primary school are meeting tonight to discuss concerns around the use of tablets in the classroom.
The meeting has been called by parents who say they are worried about the impact of the school’s policy of using the devices as a primary learning tool in place of books for Junior cycle students.
Earlier this month Ratoath College announced an "in-depth" review of its policy, after an initial survey revealed some concerns among parents and teachers about the use of the technology.
The school has told parents it will convene a working group to report back by next December.
Dr Ann Marcus-Quinn, a lecturer in Technical Communication and Instructional Design at the University of Limerick, told RTÉ News that international research had found that crucial skills, such as the ability to empathise and critically analyse texts, could be compromised by a shift to reading texts on tablets.
The Meath parents are calling for a return of hard copy textbooks as a primary learning tool for students at their school.
They say that at a minimum they want tablets used by students to be kept in school and under the control of teachers.
The parents have also criticised what they say is the practice of "forcing" them to purchase the devices from just one supplier. They say the cost of the devices and their short three year lifespan is also of concern.
The tablets cost from €500 upwards.
The principal of Ratoath College has told RTÉ News that the school, through its use of tablets, is "striving to achieve what is proposed under the Government's Digital Framework for schools, where students with their teachers develop content for learning.
Oonagh Prendergast said the school used just one provider because that provides them with a managed service with strong security controls.
