Back-to-school a monetary headache for cash-strapped parents
Navigating the back-to-school season has become a financial tightrope for parents, especially when it comes to the skyrocketing costs of uniforms and stationery.
JOHANNESBURG – As hundreds of thousands of school children buzzed with back-to-school excitement, some parents couldn’t help but lament the strain on their pockets due to the costs of education.
Navigating the back-to-school season has become a financial tightrope for parents, especially when it comes to the skyrocketing costs of uniforms and stationery.
For cash-strapped families, the “back-to-school” ordeal is more than just a monetary headache.
One parent said it's an emotional rollercoaster as they grapple with the stress of not being able to check off everything on the school supply list.
READ: Back-to-school a monetary headache for cash-strapped parents
“The biggest financial burden has been placing my children in school before I get to transport - which is like R1,200 for one child in one month. And that’s before uniform, lunch pack, stationery and the rest of it comes. It’s a lot.”
Earlier in January, the Competition Commission warned schools to comply with uniform pricing guidelines.
The South African Human Rights Commission also weighed in on the matter and recommended a cap on the price of school uniforms.