School uniforms a tough fit
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Manawatu parents are skipping meals and scouring thrifty sales to get kids equipped for the start of school.
Parents spoken to by the Manawatu Standard were adding up costs of more than $1400 for one child for school uniform, fees and school camp.
Schools return from January 30 and Palmy Revolution social assistance Facebook group founder Jenny Hall said they were distributing hundreds of second-hand uniforms.
‘‘Many of the families say they have to go without food to be able to afford these things. It’s very stressful.
‘‘A lot of people are looking at second-hand Facebook pages, but then it’s difficult if your child’s not regular size, or the school’s uniform is new,’’ Hall said.
Her son’s new Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School uniform cost $580, fees were $350 and a camp early in the year was $480. The uniform for a son starting Palmerston North Boys’ High School cost $750, not including PE gear.
‘‘We had a family that had twins starting intermediate and their girl was starting [a new school]. They both worked, but it was costing them $3500 and they wanted just any items they could get that would help.’’
A national survey of 500 parents organising children for school showed 88 per cent were under ‘‘financial stress’’ and 22 per cent would go without basic needs such as food or electricity to make ends meet. The survey was commissioned by uniform retailer Postie Plus and found the average uniform cost $265, which 72 per cent of respondents said was too expensive.
Palmerston North Boys’ High rector David Bovey said the school carefully weighed up costs. Uniforms were sold through the school to ‘‘cut out the middle man’’ and keep costs down. Pupils could also hire blazers for special events.
‘‘I think it’s important that if you have a uniform it is good quality and particularly for boys it has to be quite hard wearing.’’
Charging fees and donations was necessary, he said. ‘‘Without that extra funding schools would certainly struggle to provide the standard of education we want.’’
Debbie Dickson put four daughters through different high schools on a solo income.
Uniform costs had always been hefty, she said, and her youngest daughter at Palmerston North Girls’ High School wouldn’t play hockey this year as it cost $300 for extra uniform.
‘‘It doesn’t wash with me, being the older generation, you know it’s coming, be prepared and start putting a little bit away. You have chosen to have children.’
‘‘I know I struggled, it was hard. There were times when I didn’t eat well – I’d say I ate already.’’
Despite planning ahead last year she still had to ‘‘swallow my pride and ... get help with course costs’’.
Dickson recommended picking up generic pieces at sales during the year, buying one item each week, and letting family and friends know you are looking for second-hand items.
Hall agreed families should plan ahead, but even then not all families would be able to cover the big hit ahead of time.
‘‘Sometimes our families have $50 for groceries to feed a family of four.
‘‘Sometimes putting away $10 a week is a quarter of their grocery bill.’’
Dickson’s daughter Zara Dickson was starting her own daughter, Brooke Townend, at Intermediate Normal, which would cost more than $1000 for camp, uniform and stationery.
Zara Dickson said a uniform had some benefits, but the cost outweighed them. ‘‘I think $85 for one skirt is a bit ridiculous.
‘‘My kids, I would buy them something new and they come home at the end of the day with a hole in the knee. It’s horrible. I hate this time of year.’’