Pricey stationery leaves parents breathing through the wound!

PARENTS say they can't keep up with their kids' long school stationery lists.

With their bundles of joy ready to commence with their 2025 academic year, many parents have voiced their frustrations at the long lists of extra school stationery requirements first thing on Wednesday, 15 January as schools reopen.

Pulane Mamabolo (32) from Moremadi Park outside Mankweng, Limpopo said she already spent R1 000.

"I have six kids who attend different schools. They all received stationery lists. I already spent R1k for my daughter who's going to grade R. We still need to pay for transport. The cost of living is too high, we're struggling," Pulane said.

Salamina Letsoalo (28), whose kid attends school at Mapudithomo primary, said some specific brands required cost an arm and a leg.

"Among some of the items I bought, including 48 pieces of wooden puzzles at R100, 14 pieces of colour twisters for R89 and toilet rolls for R199. The list has 19 items in total. I spent my last cent trying to cover stationery and school uniform. Some specific brands required are expensive," she said.

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Congress of South African Student (Cosas) Capricorn region convener Itumeleng Sekole described this practice as unfair to kids from poor background.

"We believe schools have a responsibility to provide stationery or explore alternatives that won't be a burden to parents. If a parent can't afford to buy the required stationery, the school should provide support. The practice of requesting pupils to buy stationery from specific brands is unfair, particularly to kids coming from poor backgrounds. It can exacerbate existing inequalities and create barriers to learning," Sekole said.

Communications director at the Limpopo Department of education Mike Maringa said: "All our public schools from Quintile 1 up to 3 were provided with free stationery. Stationeries were distributed to schools by October 2024. Unfortunately, this matter hasn't reached us, and it's not a decision made by the department. It's a decision taken by teachers, school governing body and parents. If parents decide they want to buy certain stationery and agree at that level, we don't have a problem."