Dubai: The school vacation is almost over and parents are crying out to be given a break.
With almost everything increasing in cost from rent to basic commodities, parents are starting to feel the pinch of overpriced school supplies.
Parents told Gulf News that it was a heavy burden.
A Filipino family in the UAE share their experiences. Shafelyn Chu, who works as an accounts manager at a Montessori school and Zekundo Chu, a store worker has three children.
Their eldest, Santiago Enrique, is seven-years-old and in grade three. Their second child, Santos Manuel, is four years old and in nursery, while the youngest, month-old Santan Antheia is in day care.
Shafelyn has lived in Dubai for 12 years, while Zekundo has been in Dubai for 15 years.
Basic needs
Shafelyn said: "The increased price of school supplies is taking a big chunk out of our monthly family budget. It is taking away from other basic needs such as clothing, medicine, housing, food and even transport.
"My boys love to draw and paint and they often ask for drawing paper. I used to buy good quality paper, notebooks, pencils and crayons for a very reasonable price, but now the prices have increased by more than 20 per cent."
The children love reading books but even these have increased in price.
She said: "It is sad to limit these children to learn other things due to the high price of school materials. Imagine a school uniform costs Dh1,200 for a complete set. The price of school bags has shot up by 150 per cent. For a pair of good quality shoes you have to spend more than Dh150!"
Shafelyn is a smart buyer. She goes to a wholesale market and buys in bulk and stocks school supplies for the entire year.
"In July, we went to the wholesale market in Deira, to make use of big discounts. They offer various promotions and marked down prices especially for bulk orders."
We keep a stock of school materials for one year, it helps save a lot, she added.
Shafelyn suggested the government regulate the cost of school supplies.
She said: "The Ministry of Education has regulated the increase in tuition fees to 16 per cent this year. It should also control the prices of school supplies. Then, the retailers will not increase the prices anytime they wish to. School books, notebooks and uniforms should be subsidised."
By Manuel Almario, Community Journalist