The promised free education is still not applicable, regrets the League of Families. Lists of school supplies requested by schools are expensive for parents, between 52 and 520 euros depending on the level of education and the schools. They are tolerated but illegal. In addition, this year, because of the confinement due to coronavirus, many families have become impoverished.
Free kindergarten in theory but not in reality
The start of the school year costs parents from kindergarten, with an average of 76 euros per year in 1st and 2nd year and 134 euros in 3rd kindergarten. But some establishments may charge up to 117 euros for 1st and 2nd and 179 euros for 3rd kindergarten. However, since the start of the 2019 school year, the school must provide free supplies in 1st and 2nd year. In 2021, the 3 kindergarten classes should be able to benefit from free education. Maxime Michiels, in charge of studies at the Ligue des Familles, specifies that, “According to the Pact of Excellence, parents are only required to provide a satchel, an empty pencil box and the child’s clothes”.
Endless lists with brand requirements
Pencils, pens, pens, dictionaries, books, compasses, but also toilet paper, reams for printers, packets of tissues, paper towels … the list requested by schools is sometimes surprising. Sarah is a solo mother of two children entering 3rd year secondary and 3rd year primary. Her daughter’s high school requires notebooks or markers of this brand, and therefore more expensive. “Teachers even require dictionaries from the current year, you have to buy more almost every year! It’s heavy for me”, Sarah confides.
Families even more precarious because of covid
Sarah was put on partial unemployment during confinement, when the end of the month is already difficult in ordinary times. “I will have to ‘put myself aside’ even more when it comes to shopping”, she said modestly, to signify that she deprived herself of food so that her children did not lack anything. For the Family League, “It remains unacceptable that families find themselves financially precarious by the costs of school and therefore that the latter does not give every child chances of socio-professional integration”. In primary school, the price of the list varies from 106 to 373 euros. At the secondary level, between 291 and 520 euros.
Double penalty for students in qualifying and vocational courses
One category of parents pays even more at the start of the school year, these are the parents of young people enrolled in qualifying and vocational education. “A situation which should alert political decision-makers“, estimates the League of Families. “It is children from working-class backgrounds who are relegated to these channels, creating a paradoxical situation in terms of social justice”. The cost of purchasing equipment involves an additional charge of around 750 euros.
An inspector of gratuity
The Family League has scrutinized the lists of school supplies and its findings are clear: all the lists are illegal! “Schools are supposed to receive grants that cover the purchase of textbooks and school supplies” recalls Maxime Michiels, researcher at the League. “The subsidies are undoubtedly too low to cover these costs.” The association therefore recommends reviewing the funding of schools and proposing a free inspector. Like education inspectors, the free education inspector would have the function of verifying the application of the principle in schools.
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