Calls for help with education costs to SVP increase for the third year in a row

Analysis of calls to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) this summer show a 4% increase in requests for help from families struggling with the cost of education.

Last week, SVP took approximately 250 to 300 calls per day from worried parents.

This increase comes after the charity reported a 20% jump in requests for help with school costs in 2018. The smaller rise in calls this year suggests that the increase in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance in 2019 has lifted some of the pressure on struggling families. However, with requests increasing for a third year in a row, SVP says much greater investment in the education system is needed so that costs aren’t a barrier to participation at primary and secondary level.

SVP has put forward a number of proposals to immediately alleviate much of the financial stress on parents in a submission made last week to a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills.

Two of the SVP proposed actions that would reduce the costs of primary and secondary education are;

1. Make school books free across all primary and secondary schools. Begin with a €20 million investment in Budget 2020 to provide free books to all primary school children.
2. End the voluntary contribution system in all non-fee paying primary and secondary schools. In Budget 2020 restore capitation grants to 2010 levels.

SVP is also asking that the Department of Education and Skills establish a working group to examine the use of digital devices in schools, including the cost impact on parents.

“Access to education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty but if children don’t have the right materials for learning or if they feel different from their peers, that has a really big impact on their progression and experiences in school. We strongly believe that all children should have access to quality, free primary and secondary education,” said Kieran Stafford, SVP National President.

In 2017, SVP spent €3.6 million on education, supporting children and young people at pre-school, primary, secondary and third level, as well as supporting further education and training, second-chance education, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for the people it assists.

Marcella Stakem, SVP Policy Officer said, “If school books were free, it would significantly reduce the financial stress placed on parents and ensure that all pupils, irrespective of the household income, could access the educational resources required to participate and progress with their education. The same benefits would apply by eliminating voluntary contributions”.

In respect of the use of digital devices SVP says that traditionally they would receive request for help to fund digital devices from households who had a family member with additional educational needs.

“In more recent times our members have noted an increase in requests from parents where the use and purchase of digital devices is mandatory. In most cases there is no financial support in place to help parents meet the costs of equipment and software which can be between €500 and €800,” said Kieran Stafford.

Marcella Stakem also said, “The underinvestment in our education system at both primary and secondary level limits the potential of children and puts significant pressure on low income families. It is imperative that long-term measures are taken now to ensure that the current and future cohorts of students can participate in school on an equal footing regardless of their parents economic status. Education is a powerful predictor of life chances in adulthood. If we really want all children and young people to have access to good opportunities, we have to stop making cost a barrier to participation”.

The full submission can be found here.