“Backpack to Study” .. an exorbitant invoice that weighs the budgets of families

Students of students assured «Emirates Today» that the “return bag to study” burden the family’s budget. They said that there are schools that are required to buy them from specific suppliers, which restricts opportunities to search for less expensive options.

School departments stressed that the requirements included in the bag are essential to support the student in his educational career, stressing that the guardian is not obligated to buy them from specific outlets, as long as it is compatible with the approved standards for the quality of the general appearance of the school.

Economists said that part of the problem lies in the absence of a culture of shopping, and the weak coordination between schools and parents on the lists of needs, which leads to the purchase of quantities and varieties that may not be fully used.

In detail, the students of students stressed that the “return bag to study” turns from a mere school bag to a financial burden that exhausts the family budget with the approaching of each academic year, explaining that there are schools in the lists of the bag. The educational process. They said that the prices of school supplies are witnessing noticeable increases, which puts families in front of additional financial challenges, especially families that have more than one child in different academic stages, some of which spend between 1500 and 2000 dirhams annually on basic school supplies.

They explained that the cost does not stop at the boundaries of stationery, but rather extends to include fees for activities and trips for a school year that has not started yet, and computers or tablets that have become a condition in some curricula.

Hossam Haddad stated that «the required menus included tools of expensive brands, although there are similar quality alternatives and at much lower prices. Even the bag and sports shoes were imposed for specific colors and types, which doubled the cost without a real justification.

Mayada Yassin considered that there is an exaggeration in the required quantities, “Instead of purchasing a single box of pens that are sufficient for the semester, we ask for many cans and colors that are not consumed in full, and the same thing is with the books in different sizes, as the year ends and some of them have not opened.”

Issa Mohamed Al -Radwan stressed that «there are tools imposed by schools for first -graders, rarely used, such as oily colors and professional brushes, or full engineering tools sets.

Sarah Mustafa stated that «the lists sometimes include exorbitant electronic devices or accessories, such as tablets with high specifications or headphones and printers, although the curriculum does not require them. Even cosmetic luxuries, such as decorative pens or bag accessories, increase burdens without any educational value.

Other schools departments, which preferred not to mention their names, stressed the importance of including additional supplies in addition to the basics, in order to preserve the approved standards and the quality of the general appearance within the school campus, noting that the requirements may include colors, unified designs for bags, shoes or specific tools, in a way that ensures formal harmony between students, and reflects the identity of the school in a consistent manner.

The Education and Family Adviser, Omaima Hussein, stressed that the school bag should be limited to the basic supplies that support the educational process, such as notebooks and pens (bullets and ink), eraser, Al -Mubarrah and the ruler, in addition to the wooden or waxy colors for the first rows, a bottle of water that can be reusable and a food bag, paper napkins and handicapped hands.

She pointed to the importance of providing a simple calculator for the preparatory and secondary stages, clothes and sports shoes, according to school activity, and tools for materials such as calves, transportation and art tools, as well as the supporting means of people with determination.

She added that there are schools that impose unnecessary supplies that increase financial burdens, such as expensive tools, bags and shoes with specific colors and designs, or buy large quantities of pens and books before needed them, in addition to advanced technical and engineering tools, unnecessary electronic devices, accessories and decorations that do not serve education.

She stressed the need to review the school lists of supplies to limit the necessities only, while giving families freedom of purchase from open markets, launching awareness campaigns for smart shopping and recycling, and encouraging community initiatives to exchange supplies between families, to reduce financial burdens and enhance the spirit of solidarity.

On the other hand, the principal of a private school, Salma Eid, affirmed the commitment at the beginning of the school year to request basic supplies only within the “return bag” for the student, such as notebooks, pens and simple tools that meet his direct educational needs, pointing out that no additional requirements are imposed, to reduce financial burdens on families, and leave the freedom to choose brands and the appropriate prices for them.

For his part, the economist and entrepreneurial advisor, Dr. Jamal Al -Saidi, said that many families fall into the trap of buying everything at once at the beginning of each school season, although this period can be intelligently managed to avoid excessive spending.

He added: «The first advice is early planning and not waiting until the last moments, as this leads to random purchase. Put a list of the necessary supplies only, and you will discover that half of what you were thinking about it is unnecessary. ”

He continued: “Compare prices between traditional stores and electronic platforms to take advantage of the offers, and do not pay in exchange for the specifications of the electronic devices that your children will not use.”

He emphasized that the re -use of good bags and bags from previous years is an effective step to reduce expenses and enhance the culture of rational consumption. He also stressed the necessity of involving children in buying and making them aware of the importance of rationalizing spending, as “the child becomes more aware of his choices.”

Students:

• Bags drain a large part of the income, especially if they carry trademarks or attractive cartoon characters.

School managers:

• The guardian is not obligated to buy from specific outlets, provided that it is committed to the quality of the general appearance of the school.