Ireland’s Back-To-School Costs Are Awfully High- Barnardo

Ireland’s back-to-school costs are quite high, Barnardo Survey, a children’s charity revealed. Approximately three-quarters of secondary school parents and a little more than half of the parents of primary school children are in distress.

One of the parents of a primary school child said, “There is a constant worry of being able to keep up with the basic needs for my son to attend school”. Secondary school parents were also of the same view that the basic needs and rights of the children are becoming expensive, and thus, out of reach, which is not supporting their educational well-being, the survey showed.

(Also read: Primary Schools Struggle with Funding Deficit Due to Increasing Running Costs)

“Some progress has been made in addressing back-to-school costs, but expenses still remain high for many”, Barnardo survey disclosed after surveying for the 20th annual school costs research.

The average expenses that primary school parents pay on uniforms are €119 while the expenses incurred by secondary school parents are €211 per for the running year. Out of these, 81 per cent of parents declared that their children’s school did not offer them any option for an affordable uniform. 76% expressed that their schools could have done more to reduce their child’s uniform price, despite having the resources.

Barnardo survey also uncovered that parents were of the view that their schools make requests for back-to-school costs to be voluntary. Although those requests “did not feel voluntary”. The data was obtained from 78 per cent of parents of primary school children and another 80 per cent from secondary school children’s parents.

The secondary school parents felt the most burden was upon them as 30 per cent explained the costs in the coming weeks and months are likely to become even higher. They feel that this financial impact has hit them the hardest due to the higher classes their kids have been promoted to, being primary school graduates.

Barnardo survey unveiled that 25 per cent of secondary school parents along with 18 per cent of primary school parents had to use their savings, forcefully, in order to fulfil back-to-school costs. Sometimes, it also included taking loans or borrowing from close ones for the said purposes. This applied to 21 per cent of secondary school parents and to 12 per cent of primary school parents, both.

It’s time for action for lowering back-to-school costs

Barnardo felt the need for time and called for the formation of a voluntary endowment code of conduct for schools along with an increment in capitation rates. Moreover, Barnardo feels that under the Budget of 2022 and 2023, a back-to-school allowance should be granted for at least €100 on a permanent basis.

The charity requested the Department of Education of Ireland to take steps in this regard so that affordable uniform options could be offered to all parents. Having said that, the charity also appealed to extend the program for free school books scheme for secondary school parents who felt the hardest burden.

Understanding the educational needs and rights of the students, Barnardo asked the Education Department of Ireland to arrange a digital educational fund for low-income parents. It would help them to gain access to tablets and laptops for their children whenever the need arises.

Acknowledging the previous efforts of the Ireland Government, Barnardo chief executive, Suzanne Connolly said, “The government has implemented positive reforms over the past two years around school costs, in particular in relation to school books, and they should be commended for that”.

She added that still, dozens of parents are still struggling to meet the expenses as they want to give their children the best education. To curb their considerable financial difficulties in education, the parents need relief with the government’s support to “alleviate financial stress on parents” and keep the schooling costs at an “affordable level”.