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FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING to meet the costs of sending their children to school, with many being forced to take out loans to cover expenses, according to a survey by the children’s charity Barnardos.
Barnardos’ CEO Fergus Finlay said “parents responding to our survey have overwhelmingly responded to say that despite the recession the costs of sending their children to school have increased this year”.
Finlay said that the average costs of sending a child to junior infants stands at €350 and rises to €805 for a child entering secondary school. “Even for those parents in receipt of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance the shortfall between these costs and the amount they receive can leave them struggling to afford school costs,” he said.
The charity said that such the impact of such expenses at a time of recession means that education costs are “pushing parents to the limit.”
One mother responding to the survey outlined her situation: “It is costing me €1,800 to send my three children to school this September. My husband is currently unemployed and we are really being stretched to meet the costs. We had to get a loan from the credit union to send our children to school – it’s a joke.”
The biggest costs facing parents sending children to school remain uniforms and text books. In some schools, the absence of crest-free uniforms and school book rental schemes can stretch budgets even further, Barnardos said.
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What bit of “voluntary contribution” dont they get?
I am reminded of a conversation I had many years ago in my CBS
“We have a problem.”
“What is that?”
“Your parents haven’t paid the voluntary contribution”
“And?”
“They have to pay it”
“Why?”
“Because they have to”
“But it’s voluntary”
“Dont be a smart ass, they have to pay it”
“What does voluntary mean to you?”
****slap****
“Get the f**k out of my office”
I’m a parent, a single working parent to two teenage lads. Not only are the uniforms extortionate ( eg. €94 for the tracksuit that’s rarely used) but the book list has yet again changed meaning that I can no longer pass books from one brother down to other. It’s costing me €1,600 this September and I too have had to go to the CU. Despite several paycuts on a minimal public service wage the fact is I am working so not entitled to help.
Another real problem is voluntary contributions, the boys’ school ask for €90 and if you cannot afford it they request you to tick the box and give a written explanation as to why not. Disgraceful.
wonder where they get their figures. transition year fee is E400 in our school (worth every cent) and voluntary fees 200 – 500. that is before you buy shoes!!!! adults sizes and quality….. and that not all. Second level students now require lap-tops for e-learining. in times past these kids could contribute from their summer jobs but those are few now. something got to change to put education provision where it deserves to be.
Only in Ireland could spending €400 for your child to doss for a year be considered “worth every cent”
My son’s new secondary sent us a letter stating ” E100, must be paid if your child is accepting his place. If this is not paid then the his place will be give to students on the waiting list”. So yet another way to get more money from parents.
What measures/initiatives are in place at the moment with regards to school book schemes and lower cost uniforms that are helping parents meet these costs?
myschooljumper.ie will embroider a school crest on plain jumpers polos sweatshirts etc that you can buy on the high street .
You can buy plain jumpers polos etc from Dunnes marks penneys etc quite cheaply send them to myschooljumper.ie and they will crest them the minimum is 6 garments(€8 each) doesn’t matter what type of garment as long as they are getting the same crest, the more that are done the cheaper they get are school got together all the jumpers and only cost €3.50 per jumper.Great saving on the traditional shops
God, that’s actually such a great idea.
Shut up Daniel you arse
If you can’t afford the kids, don’t have them in the first place.
Your comment is deeply insensitive.
Life changes for people, circumstances change. Most parents do the absolute best they can to raise their children to become kind, considerate, conscientious adults.
I’m so grateful my mother had me regardless of how little or how much money she had.
You can’t put a value on good parenting.
i went to school in Ireland in the 80s and it was no way that disgraceful, i live in Scotland and iv only paid £56.00 for my 2 sons uniforms with crests and there trousers are only £4 pound each and school bags are £3-£4 pound there books are free cos the get passed on in the class, there school shoes have to be black and there £20:00 for both kids. not at all expensive. we are Imigrating to Australia in a short time and i think it will hit me over there..
have your say