According to the latest research from children’s charity Barnardos, almost 75% of secondary school parents and slightly over 50% of primary school parents are anxious about affording the expenses related to the commencement of the school term. The charity’s 20th annual study on school costs indicates that despite some improvements, many continue to struggle with lofty back-to-school expenses.
This year, parents of primary school children have reported an average spend of €119 on uniforms, while secondary school parents have spent around €211. Among these, 81% claim that their children’s school does not provide a cost-effective uniform option. Furthermore, 76% believe that schools could make more efforts to lessen the cost of uniforms.
The issue of voluntary contributions also persistently troubles parents, with 78% of primary and 80% of secondary school parents stating that their schools sought a voluntary donation at the beginning of the semester. Roughly two-thirds of these parents felt that the contribution was far from voluntary.
The financial burden weighs heaviest on secondary school parents, with merely 30% thinking the upcoming costs to be manageable. The study reveals that 25% of secondary school parents and 18% of primary school parents will need to dip into their savings to cover back-to-school costs. Moreover, 21% of secondary and 12% of primary school parents will need to resort to loans or borrowing from acquaintances to cover these expenses.
Heartfelt testimonials from parents crystallise the pressure, with one primary school parent claiming the constant worry of providing for the basic needs of his child for school attendance. Another parent of a secondary school student argues that fulfilling children’s basic educational requirements should not financially burden families nationwide.
In light of the findings, Barnardos has urged the creation of a voluntary contribution code of practice for educational institutions, coupled with a rise in school capitation rates.
The charity is campaigning for the continuation of the free schoolbooks scheme for every year of secondary school and insists on the implementation of inexpensive uniform options by all Irish schools under the Education Department’s mandate. Moreover, the charity argues for an additional €100 hike in the back-to-school allowance, as was done in the years 2022 and 2023, and looks forward to it becoming a permanent fixture.
A digital education fund, aimed at assisting underprivileged parents with obtaining the necessary digital devices like tablets and laptops for their children, is another proposal put forth by this charity.
Barnardos Ireland’s CEO, Suzanne Connolly, has praised the recent measures taken by the government to minimise schooling expenses, particularly regarding schoolbooks. However, she voiced concerns over the ongoing struggles parents face each summer to meet back-to-school expenses, resulting in significant financial strain. She urges the government to press on with implementing additional measures to alleviate this financial burden, and to pressure schools into taking action to make back-to-school costs more manageable.