Little movement on ‘back to school’ prices crisis

EDUCATION COSTS EXTRA BURDEN ON FAMILIES | BOOKS, UNIFORMS AND ‘VOLUNTARY’ CONTRIBUTIONS

» BY JOHN HEDGES

WHILE PARENTS SWARMED into bookshops, stationers and clothing stores as the school summer holidays came to an end, RTÉ Radio reporter Emma O’Kelly asked mothers and fathers in a shopping centre about the ‘back to school’ costs.

Books? They’re provided free by the school, the parents piped up cheerfully.
Swimming, admin and photocopying costs? No, don’t have to pay them either.
School transport. No, that’s free too.
‘Voluntary’ contributions? Families are encouraged to support fund-raising events and raffles but there’s no bald, upfront demand from the school for a ‘voluntary’ payment that could run into hundreds.

The accents gave the game away before RTÉ revealed that the families they interviewed were in Newry. South of the border, it’s a very different story. Many parents have to pay for books, school transport as well as uniforms, shoes, sportswear and ‘extra-curricular activities’ (e.g. swimming and music). Then there’s the notorious ‘voluntary’ contributions.
Depending on where you live, families are ‘asked’ to stump up anything from €25 to €300 a year. One school was said by RTÉ to ask for €53 a month. A mother at another school said that if she didn’t pay the ‘voluntary’ contribution her child didn’t get a locker — inconvenience adding to the stigma that other children know you haven’t paid. Others say if you choose not to or can’t afford to pay, reminders often follow until you give in (voluntarily, of course).
Children’s charity Barnardos revealed in its annual School Costs Survey (published in August) that the average cost of sending a child to junior infants this year is €350, rising to €805 for a student starting secondary school. This reflected the findings of an earlier survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions, Sinn Féin Dáil Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD said.
The breakdown of costs for parents sending children back to school according to the Barnardos survey are:-

School-specific tracksuits - €35
School-specific jumpers - €40 to €60
School-specific coats or blazers - over €100
School shoes - €50 to €70
Books for junior infants - €50 to €100
First-year secondary school student’s books - €250
‘Voluntary’ contributions - €70 to €100
Additional contributions sought by schools for photocopying, stationery, etc - €40 to €50
Extra-curricular activities such as swimming - €75 to €100
Transport for primary school - €50 (up to a maximum of €110 per family)
Transport for secondary school - €350 (up to a maximum of €650 per family)

Seán Crowe emphasised that Sinn Féin is committed to a free, universal education system and he reminded the Fine Gael/Labour Government that the Constitution says: “The state shall provide for free primary education” (Article 42.4).
“The Government must take a more vigorous, co-ordinated approach to the big cost items that are putting a bigger strain on family budgets - uniforms, sports kit, books and transport,” the Dublin South-West TD said.
“So-called ‘voluntary’ contributions should also be banned by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn. It’s a nonsense and an insult.”
He said the cost of uniforms could be reduced by standardising the design and colours of uniforms and providing an option for parents to sew on school crests.
The use of laptops, tablets and e-books are an alternative to having to buy dozens of schoolbooks annually and one that is being pioneered in the 26 Counties by a small number of schools. In the meantime, although publishers of schoolbooks have, at long last, only just agreed to reduce the number of new editions they issue every year, they can do more by allowing the Department of Education and Skills or individual schools to buy at wholesale prices which can then be passed on to students and their families.
The Department of Education and Skills should look at best practices of schools with book rental schemes and use this as a template that can be applied in all schools. The old system of children returning books and selling them second-hand to the next class should also be restored.
Kildare North Sinn Féin representative Martin Kelly said:
“The schoolbook market is monopolised by two or three companies who are not regulated by the Department of Education and are allowed charge as they see fit. Furthermore, the publication of second and further editions of the same books together with workbooks prevents parents from purchasing the textbooks second-hand or passing them on to younger siblings.
“Surely it is also time for schools to look at e-books and laptops and so save our children’s backs from heavy schoolbags, not to mention parents’ pockets.”