One in three parents going into debt over back-to-school costs in 2025, survey finds

Overall, three in five (61%) parents told the survey they believe schools do not do enough to help keep the costs of going back to school down. File picture: iStock

One in three parents say they are going into debt to cover back-to-school costs, with more parents now cutting back on food and other household costs than previous years.

With costs increased in 2025 for both primary and secondary school, the average debt taken on by parents this year amounts to €376.