James BryceBy James Bryce
IT’S not just schoolchildren being forced to add up this term… parents are being forced to shell out over 1,000 euros in back-to-school costs.
The outlay, ranging from 420 to 1,200 euros depending on whether it is a public or private school, is getting higher each year, insist consumer groups.
While the cost of a uniform remains unchanged from last year, extras such as supplementary text books have seen a sharp rise of 20 per cent.
The average cost for pupils at state funded schools currently stands at 600 to 700 euros for those which require a uniform.
But despite the heavy damage to the wallet, some costs have dropped over the last few years, including lunch, transport and after-school activities.
I have just sent 3 children back to school this September but as I live in the province of Sevilla, I do not have to buy books OR uniforms.
The only things we need to buy are jotters and work books the kids write in.
Total spend… no more than 30 euro each.