With the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, which is already on the horizon, parents are actively preparing their children for school. This process is often accompanied by significant financial costs, especially considering that the prices of school supplies and uniforms have increased significantly.
The rising cost of back-to-school supplies is becoming a major challenge for many families, especially considering that the average price of back-to-school essentials has risen by 14% this year. IA “FAKT” calculated how much it costs to send a child to school in the new academic year.
The cost of stationery and school supplies
Taking a child to school includes the purchase of various office supplies. The prices of these and other school supplies vary widely – it all depends on the manufacturer, quality, design, etc., so let’s consider the average check.
- School notebook: from 2.70 hryvnias per piece with a soft plain cover, up to 470 hryvnias for a pack of 16 notebooks with a hard cover and pictures.
- School diary: from 25 hryvnias.
- Ballpoint pens: from 7 hryvnias per piece.
- Colored pencils: from 40 hryvnias for a set of 15 pieces.
- A school pencil case: the average cost is 300 hryvnias.
- A set of rulers: from 25 hryvnias (ordinary ruler, triangle, protractor).
- Albums for drawing: up to 280 hryvnias.
- Covers for notebooks: on average 15-30 hryvnias.
- Covers for textbooks: from 15 to 120 hryvnias for a package of universal covers.
- Folders for notebooks: about 150 hryvnias.
In addition, other goods may be needed:
- Compass: from 30 hryvnias.
- Colored paper: from 49 hryvnias.
- Colored cardboard: from 55 hryvnias.
- Scissors: from 24 hryvnias.
- Atlases and contour maps: from 95 hryvnias.
- Watercolor paints: 100 hryvnias.
In addition, let’s add to this set:
- school backpack with orthopedic back: 1000 hryvnias;
- a bag for sports uniforms and shoes: 200 hryvnias;
- lunch box: 180 hryvnias.
So, in general, the basic cost of sending a child to school will be 3,000 hryvnias on average. However, many children will still need a school uniform, which is also not cheap.
Cost of school uniform
Despite the fact that more and more schools are abandoning the mandatory wearing of uniforms, many parents continue to buy them for their children. It is not only convenient, but also meets the standards of many educational institutions.
The cost of school uniforms varies depending on the manufacturer, quality and design. Prices start at 1,200 hryvnias for boys, and 1,100 hryvnias for girls. The total cost of the set, which includes a suit, two shirts and shoes, costs from 4,800 to 6,800 hryvnias.
It should be noted that for those who choose distance learning, the costs of preparing for the new academic year may be lower. Not having to buy school uniforms, backpacks and other things necessary for school helps to save a lot. Distance learning also reduces the cost of transportation and food, which becomes an important saving factor for many families in the conditions of economic instability. However, these children need to buy tablets and laptops, which are expensive and not available to all parents.
Therefore, sending a child to school in 2024 has become a significant challenge for many families due to the significant increase in prices for school supplies and clothing. And if there is more than one child in the family, and the parents are forced not to work under various circumstances, this process is extremely problematic.
