School costs put families on brink of despair

The costs of school books and uniforms are driving many families to despair, with some parents claiming they are close to breaking point because of the financial strain.

The annual Barnardos School Costs Survey shows that on average, parents are paying €350 for a child in senior infants, €400 for children in fourth class in primary school, and €785 for children going into first year in secondary school.

The figures emerge as 1,500 families a day are applying for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, with 132,500 payments already made, totalling €34.5m. While up to 190,000 homes are expected to qualify again this year, the rate has been cut by €50 per child, the second year running it has been reduced.

Schoolbooks and uniforms are the cause of much of the cost headaches, with many parents despairing at the financial strain placed on them at this time of year.

While school expenses have remained stable since last year, the cost of voluntary contributions and school transport costs are adding to the pressures, according to the survey of more than 1,100 parents.

“There continues to be an expectation that parents can afford these costs, but the survey paints a different picture. It is a hugely stressful time on parents as many are forced into debt, to forego bills, and take out loans in order to meet these costs. They are afraid their child’s education will suffer if they don’t have everything they need,” said Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay.

Many of the 700 parents who left personal comments expressed anger that not enough is being done to limit the financial pressure on families by the Government, school patron bodies, school boards, or parents’ associations.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn agrees that more leadership needs to be shown at school level but he said it is up to local parents’ associations to raise issues around uniforms with their own children’s schools.

“It is important that all schools are sensitive to the financial pressures on parents, not only with regard to school uniforms or books but in respect of any matter that has cost implications for parents,” he told the Dáil a month ago.

Mr Finlay said Mr Quinn and his department could no longer take an “arm’s length” approach and need to ensure boards of management implement policies to reduce the financial strain.

The survey shows that more parents have access to book rental schemes at their children’s schools than a year ago. However, there is also increased pressure for financial contributions to the run-ning of the school. Voluntary contributions are asked of more than two thirds of parents of primary pupils and three quarters with children in secondary.

Mr Finlay drew attention to practices in some schools where parents have no choice but to buy tablet computers, while others continue to add new titles to book lists, which means some textbooks cannot be passed down within families.

Mr Quinn has cut funding to schools for running costs for the last two years, but boards say withdrawal of grants for running repairs has had the biggest impact, leading to the increased reliance on support from parents and local fundraising.