Key Takeaways:
- Many families in New Zealand are struggling to afford back-to-school costs, including uniforms, stationery, and textbooks.
- Some schools are relying on donations and community trusts to fund parts of their school uniform and stationery costs.
- The cost of back-to-school items can be a significant burden for low-income families, with some parents having to make sacrifices elsewhere to afford the basics.
- Charities and organizations are working to provide support and assistance to families in need, including donating stationery and providing hardship funds.
- The Ministry of Social Development offers hardship assistance for school costs, but this grant must be paid back.
Introduction to the Issue
The start of a new school year can be a challenging time for many families in New Zealand, as the cost of back-to-school basics such as uniforms, stationery, and textbooks can be overwhelming. While some schools are able to fund parts of their school uniform through their own coffers, local community trusts, and donations, many families are still struggling to make ends meet. The cost of back-to-school items can be a significant burden for low-income families, with some parents having to make sacrifices elsewhere to afford the basics.
The Cost of Back-to-School Items
The cost of back-to-school items can vary significantly depending on the school and the year level of the student. According to a review of 10 school stationery lists across different schools in Auckland, the cheapest list was for a Year One student, costing $26, while the most expensive list was for a Year 12 student, costing over $100, not including a Bring Your Own Device such as a laptop. This can be a significant expense for many families, particularly those with multiple children. As one parent noted, "Expenses are really high, especially [with] the economy these days, it’s really challenging. We have to be really careful, [with] other bills such as rent, power and food."
Schools’ Efforts to Support Families
Some schools are taking steps to support families who are struggling to afford back-to-school costs. For example, Wellington’s Porirua College Principal Ragne Maxwell said that the school is able to fund a significant part of their uniform costs for those who cannot afford them. The school also provides basic uniforms to students who are unable to purchase them, allowing them to start school without delay. Christchurch’s Burnside High School principal Scott Haines also noted that the school has a hardship fund to help families with back-to-school costs, which is funded through a combination of school funds and community trusts.
Community Support and Charities
In addition to schools’ efforts, there are also charities and organizations working to provide support and assistance to families in need. For example, Papers Pens Pencils, a charity run by Auckland student George McGuinness, collects donated stationery from schools and businesses and redistributes it to schools across the Upper North Island. Last year, the charity donated 50,000 stationery items to 26 schools. McGuinness noted that the cost of stationery can be a significant expense for many families, particularly those with multiple children. "Scientific calculators are over $100, for me and my whole family, it ended up being $500, $600, just for stationery to get back to school," he said.
Government Support
The Ministry of Social Development also offers hardship assistance for school costs, which can be applied for by parents on low incomes. However, this grant must be paid back, and the Ministry can set up repayments. Last year, over 38,000 hardship payments were granted for school costs, totaling over $11 million. While this support can be helpful, it is not a long-term solution to the issue of affordability, and many families are still struggling to make ends meet.
Conclusion
The cost of back-to-school items is a significant issue for many families in New Zealand, particularly those on low incomes. While schools, charities, and the government are working to provide support and assistance, more needs to be done to address the root causes of this issue. By providing affordable and accessible education, we can help to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation. As one parent noted, "There’s no uniform here which, I don’t know it’s kind of a good thing because there’s no uniform costs." By working together, we can create a more equitable and supportive education system for all.
