Families despair over school costs

It costs almost €1,000 for young people to start in secondary school according to a survey by Barnardos. 

Research by the children's charity revealed the average basic cost for a child starting first year in second-level schools is €815.  Some 58% of parents have spent more on schoolbooks in 2010 than was spent in 2009.  Overall consumer prices were lower by 1.1%, but the cost of education increased by 9.1%.

CEO of Barnardos Fergus Finlay says the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance of €305 provided by the government to certain means-tested families does not go far enough.  “It is imperative that Government take this into account when considering the upcoming Budget; families who are dependent on social welfare or low incomes absolutely cannot afford any cuts to their income or to supports for their children’s education.  Children’s futures cannot be sacrificed to the recession,” he said.

The €815 is an average basic cost and does not take into account school bags, sports clothing or equipment, stationery, or extracurricular activities such as swimming, class trips.  Norah Gibbons, Barnardos’ Directory of Advocacy, welcomed recent changes to the School Book Grant Scheme, which will now be provided to schools based on the numbers of pupils in a school rather than application by principals based on the number of students they considered in need of financial support for books. 

The distribution of the funds continues to be at the discretion of the principal, although the establishment of schoolbook rental schemes is being strongly encouraged it is not compulsory.

One person surveyed commented,  “I think school costs are shameful.  Why can't children borrow books or buy second hand books, instead of having to buy the latest edition of the books every year.  The majority of my child’s books are workbooks which can’t be recycled and are very wasteful.”

Others commented on the expense of crested school uniforms, which cost as much as €30 per item, over generic non-crested clothing.

Earlier this year in April the St Vincent De Paul Society appealed to the teachers at their annual conferences to curtail textbook changes. 

SVP stated that many more families than ever before cannot afford the cost of schoolbooks and the numbers of families, and schools, approaching the SVP for financial assistance is increasing.  SVP will be giving €3.5m in assistance with education costs this year.

"In the past this assistance would have primarily been directed to families but increasingly schools are being assisted," the SVP National President, Mairead Bushnell, a former teacher herself, said.  “We know from our discussions that teachers are very concerned at the impact education costs are having on families, particularly the most disadvantaged.”

SVP sees every day the impact of non-ability to pay costs associated with both primary and secondary school.  Disengagement from school begins early in a child’s life - not being able to pay for books and equipment, or to go on school trips and so on results in exclusion, humiliation and despair.

“The Society of St Vincent de Paul Society knows at first hand just how important it is for children to be supported, encouraged and facilitated to access education,” said Ms Bushnell.  “The majority of SVP volunteers experience the stress, anger and hopelessness of parents who simply cannot afford the back-to-school and ongoing costs of school.  We know the corrosive and long-term damage this anxiety can have on families,” she said.

With over 437,000 people out of work, the SVP is finding more and more families seeking its help in meeting school costs.

by Ann Marie Foley