Uniform costs prompt call for rethink

Uniform costs are adding more stress amid the cost of living crisis, experts say. PHOTO: GETTY...
Uniform costs are adding more stress amid the cost of living crisis, experts say. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
The cost of living crisis has meant the back-to-school period was putting more pressure on already tight budgets, experts say.

Family Works Central Otago financial mentor Sandra O’Neill said the price of everything had gone up but wages had not risen accordingly and that was something that affected everyone.

The cost of rent and food had increased so much those things alone were taking more than some people earned.

"It is showing that the base needs are . . . out of reach, so therefore the other things are getting missed," she said.

The costs of school was just one more thing that added to the stress people were living through.

"We understand it’s extremely stressful for people now, because it’s just another thing."

She had clients who were concerned about being able to buy school uniforms.

One of her tips was to build a uniform based on the bare minimum, which was usually a top and shorts or a skirt. Additional uniform items, like jerseys, could be purchased later, she said.

She also suggested looking at second-hand shops or reaching out on parents’ groups on social media.

The cost of books and lunches was also causing pressure.

School was very expensive and needed to be budgeted for, Ms O’Neill said.

Anyone who was struggling should talk to their school as they might have support available to help minimise the financial stress, such as setting up an automatic payment to the school within a pay cycle.

"A little bit goes a long way if it’s done on a regular basis and you’re not going to get those huge statements from the school," she said.

A bit-by-bit approach to buying books also worked.

"Don’t overwhelm yourself, because it doesn’t help."’

University of Otago public health lecturer Johanna Reidy said it was time for a rethink about school uniforms.

Uniforms should encourage school attendance and not be a barrier to it, Dr Reidy said.

It was important to remember uniforms were instituted in the first place to make access to education easier for students who generally didn’t have much.

"But when you start to have the cost of uniforms stopping kids getting to school, we need to think about what we can do to step in."

Dr Reidy has been involved in research which shows uniforms have a positive effect on education and health but need to be less complex as a way of reducing cost.

"Currently, low-income families have to take out what are essentially loans from Work and Income. This then places pressure on these families to survive on less income while paying back the loans."

A school uniform could cost between $80 and $1200 for one child. In New Zealand the government could establish a national uniform bulk buyer similar to the national drug-buying agency Pharmac, she said.

Schools needed to check their uniform still served pupil and community needs, including the number and cost of compulsory items such as blazers.

"One thing that communities could do is use the tools that they’ve got, make sure they get a good deal from their suppliers, have a conversation within the community about whether the uniform has to be as complicated as it is, just to bring that price down to something that is more manageable."

ella.jenkins@alliedpress.co.nz

 

Back to school safety

Police have urged families to prioritise the safety of children who are headed back to school in the next week.

National Road Policing Centre spokesman Inspector Peter McKennie said the start of the school year was often an exciting time for families and road safety should be front of mind alongside the regular back to school checklist.

Road safety was something that should be taken note of all-year-round but especially at the start of the year, he said.

"We continue to remind parents of the crucial role they play in teaching children about the potential dangers they face when going to and from school."

Insp McKennie said parents should show their children the safest way to get to school, including the safest crossings, as well as remind them to look both ways when they cross.

"Practise it with them, so when it comes time to doing it alone, they are confident."

Drivers were asked to be alert on the road as children could be unpredictable and appear out of nowhere.

The speed limit around parked buses as well as school zones was something drivers needed to be aware of, he said.

"The speed limit is 20kmh when driving past a stationary school bus and you need to reduce your speed below 30kmh when passing schools."

Insp McKennie hoped the start of the school year was a memorable one for all the right reasons.

— APL