Tauranga families are arriving at Tauranga Budget Advisory Service seeking help to manage the spiraling cost of sending their children back to school.
Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Marjorie Iliffe says the new school year is an expensive time for many families.
Marjorie Iliffe is urging families to talk directly to schools if they have trouble covering costs.
'There's not just uniforms and book fees, but there's course fees too, and many schools include the cost of school camps in their fees.
'Every course has material they use and charge a fee for the provision of those materials.”
She says some estimates have been done, showing the cost of new summer and winter uniforms can cost up to $1000.
'A lot of parents have children at three different schools.
'So you have three different uniforms, three different school fees and it's just not easy.”
Marjorie advises families to talk directly to the school if they are having problems covering costs.
'Ask if there is a hardship grant or if they can pay it off.”
She also advises parents to set up automatic payments long term so that they money is there when the need it at the start of each school year.
8 comments
Maybe it's time to say enough!
Posted on 27-01-2011 17:19 | By Lostzone
Is there really a need for school uniforms these days? Most kids appear to show little or no pride in how they are worn anyway. Do school uniforms have status any more? Maybe its time to say "public schools no longer require uniforms". Private or other schools can do as they wish. Does the uniform help educate our kids any better? One wonders what would happen if a group of say 20 or 30 parents sent their kids to school in civvie clothes. The same rules they have regarding length of shorts or skirts, type of shoes ect could still apply. Maybe the money saved could be put to better use for funding school camps or additional sports equipment, computers and the like. I feel that would contribute more to a better education as opposed to uniforms. And the parents would also have less stress. Is it time to say "enough"?
school costs
Posted on 27-01-2011 18:25 | By Glen Clova
Uniform charges are criminal.they cost more than designer clothes.Schools are ripping parents off bigtime.
Costs
Posted on 27-01-2011 22:56 | By Matt
The issue I have with school uniforms is that in most cases the items have to be a specific brand, usually from only one shop in town that sells them. No other brand item of same colour, shade or style is acceptable and the shop that sells the items have a monopoly and can charge the earth (and do). You may hear the "the clothing we insist on is quality and lasts a long time" Quality clothing is a fine idea but in many cases they get lost, stolen or the clothing outlasts the kids' time at school. OR the required item (ie MMC's rain jacket is an example) doesn't actually keep the students dry and they get punished for wearing something else. Nuts.
It is a disgraceful RORT
Posted on 28-01-2011 09:24 | By Ratcatcher
Shame on those who promote overpriced school uniforms to be purchased only at schools.Similar items of same quality could be purchased from the BIG FOUR at a fraction of the cost--polo shirts shorts jackets socks shoes and sandals. All this without demeaning the value of a standard school uniform. The administrators involved should shape up or shipout because their lack of financial know how is not a bonus.
No Seconds Either
Posted on 28-01-2011 14:14 | By Sandy
My child is starting at primary school later in the year, so I thought I would check the end of year secondhand sales, but the school no longer does this, they suggested their uniform suppliers or postie plus who sells a school shirt for $30, and the smallest size sold was a 6 that was like a dress on her - or I get their supplier to cut to size - too scared to find out what that will cost. Time for these schools to get in the real world - parents shouldn't go broke just for sending their kids to school. PS Postie Plus also offers a subsidy back to the school for buying the uniform through them - but I bet the school doesn't pass this onto the parents who sponsor them!!!!! And I think one or two of the stationery shops do this too!
To Sandy
Posted on 28-01-2011 16:04 | By Lostzone
While I agree with your sentiments I do not agree with **Time for these schools to get in the real world** In my opinion it's time for the "parents" to take action. How come we (citizens) allow being dictated to when it is causing "family stress". There are plenty of school kid parents to take some positive action. I encourage you to say "ENOUGH". I am no longer a school kid parent, however I am very available to help."If you do what you have always done you will get what you have always got!" "ENOUGH" I say!
Kids get Brunt
Posted on 29-01-2011 21:00 | By Sandy
Would love to do as you suggest and very willing to - however we have to be aware that it is the kids who could get punished the most if we chose to do this - either by being sent home and/or excluded from school trips - parents who can't afford to pay the school fees or materials costs have had the children come home without their projects; because they couldn't pay the costs requested their children's work has been dumped rather than sent home and accounts sent to the debt collectors. This is totally unfair on the children and I am very wary of causing any similar stress to my delicate wee 5 year old - something I'm sure the schools play on - knowing this is exactly how a lot of parents would feel
Cost of uniforms etc
Posted on 30-01-2011 14:59 | By l.meyers
Come on people yes the costs of sending our kids back to school is expensive BUT we all know that it is coming up at this time of year. Im a single mum (working 20 hours a week) with 3 kids at college and 1 starting Intermediate this week. Its all about budgeting your money, My kids have all their uniforms and stationery and shoes ready to start school. Yes its expensive time of year with xmas etc but this happens every year and most of us are in the same boat. As a hint start your xmas shopping in June and spread it out through the year.
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