As the opening of schools draws near, there are still parents and pupils battling to afford school stationery for the 2022 academic year.
Founder of Where Rainbows Meet Training and Development Foundation Mymoena Scholtz said many parents in the community have approached the organisation to assist with school stationery.
“About four years ago we distributed stationery to various communities but unfortunately that funder has stopped. That was a hard knock for people, especially those living on a Sassa grant. Where must people get all that stationery required for schools?”
She added that parents were already panicking and asking whether the organisation would support them this year.
“I take it from my own child, the amount of money I must spend on stationery and school books every year, besides her stationery and all the hard cover books. I cannot even imagine what parents are going through, knowing that our children will once again be at a disadvantage where parents cannot afford the basic necessities in order to educate their children.”
Nuraan Harris from Seawinds, a mother of two girls, says before she could enjoy her Christmas holiday, she bought her children’s stationery and school uniform.
“I have a 12-year-old daughter going to Grade 7 this year and a five-year-old in Grade R. Buying their school stationery, books and uniforms all together came up to R2 000.
“It definitely cost more than the previous year. For Grade R it is more expensive because you have to buy everything whereas my older daughter still had stationery left from last year, such as scissors and rulers.”
Harris added that her Grade R daughter’s school shoes alone cost R329 and her older daughter’s cost R349.
Natalie Swartz from Vrygrond, the mother of a matriculant this year, is unemployed and can’t afford to buy stationery.
“The school normally sends a list of stationery to buy and it’s always an issue. Last year we were blessed, my daughter’s school stationery was sponsored. It was a big blessing for us because both my husband and I are unemployed. There are so many parents who have lost their jobs and cannot afford it.
“School shoes and school bags are also very much needed.”
