The cost of having children continues to rise as inflation bites at the finances of families. According to projections from the Family League (Ligue des familles), sending children back to school could cost as much as €1,120.
Prices between August 2021 and July 2023, have increased as much as 14%, La Libre Belgique reports, which the Family League says has a clear impact on school-related expenses.
Food costs increased by 8.8% in 2022, and by 16% in 2023, which is also raising the price of food in school canteens. Likewise, inflation on clothing (8% in 2023) will drive up the cost of sports and swimwear.
Even getting to school is ballooning. Inflation on public transport has risen by 7.5% in 2022, and 13% in 2023. So has the cost of workbooks, stationery, and other exercise books, which increased by 5.8% in 2022, and 7% in 2023.
Given all these factors, the League has estimated the average cost of equipping children for back-to-school at a maximum of €1,120.
Pricy tech
On average, the cost in September for students starting at nurseries is around €152; €290 for (ASO) primary school (€548 if a computer is required); €486 for (TSO) secondary school (€744 if computers are needed); and €712 for vocational training (BSO) (€1,120 with a computer.)
The League notes that the cost of digitisation is weighing heavily on families. While the cost of some materials for school is now provided free of charge in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) for the first two years of primary school, the cost of IT equipment is often left to parents.
Now, 90% of French-speaking secondary school pupils and 40% of primary school students require a computer for their school work. Just five years ago, this was not the case, and students were not required to own a computer. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, placing a new emphasis on digitisation and distance learning.
These new requirements, such as tablets, internet connection, printers, or paid software, have led to a median additional cost of 560 per student in 2022-2023, according to figures from the League. Of 1,000 families surveyed, only 3% had received help from their child’s school to purchase this required equipment.
Insufficient support
In the FWB, only the least privileged families are entitled to receive €150 in support from the Region to purchase a computer. In reality, this funding remains hard to access for most families. Many families feel that €150 is insufficient to buy a functional computer for their own children, still being forced to shell €350 out of their own pockets.
It is clear that the cost of education increases exponentially according to the level of education attained. The highest costs are incurred by secondary school students, who typically have greater material and technological needs.
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For technical training establishments, costs are significantly bloated by the need for uniforms, specialist protective equipment, and external training courses, which all add over €100 to the price of education. The Union is calling for greater financial support to help cover these additional costs.
The Union of Federations of Catholic Education (UFAPEC), decries the high cost and relative lack of support provided by the French-speaking community. Members of the Union report costs of up to €1,200 per school year for equipment, not including school trips, sports equipment (which can reach up to €600), and computers.
