Children’s charity want parents’ opinions on real cost of education

Children's charity Barnardos are hoping to shine a light on the real cost of Ireland’s 'free' education system.

Leading children's charity Barnardos are asking parents of primary and secondary school students to give their opinion on the real cost of education in Ireland. The organisation's 12^th annual School Cost Survey is now open and hopes to give a voice to parents on the real cost of Ireland’s 'free' education system. Mums and dads of school-age children are invited to fill out the survey and tell Barnardos how much money they spend on their children’s education - inclusive of costs such as iPads, school books, clothing, footwear, photocopying fees, and voluntary contributions. June Tinsley, head of advocacy for the charity, says that many families in Ireland are burdened by the real price of education:

“School may have wound down for summer, but for too many parents the pressure of the new school year is only beginning. Ireland tends to pride itself on our ‘free’ education system, but realistically this is far from the case. The purpose of our survey is to shine a light on the real cost of children’s education and provide a voice to the parents left footing the bill, helping us put pressure on the government to invest more in our education system."

Ms Tinsley says that high costs continue to affect many children:

"Access to education is a right for all children yet it is those in low income families most burdened by these costs which in turn affects their children’s participation in school.”

The survey will close in two weeks' time, at midnight on Sunday the 24^th of July.