Claims NI parents are paying for education shortfall

By Adam Evans

New figures show parents in Northern Ireland spend on average £1,222 each year on their child’s education. 

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People says this cost includes school uniforms, PE kits, transport, meals, voluntary contributions, educational trips, after school activities and school equipment.

The survey, commissioned by NICCY, shows that on average, parents spend £421 on a child who is in preschool and £1,005 on a Primary school child. While the average for children attending post Primary schools is £1,611, the cost for those attending Grammar schools is £1,990 and for those attending secondary schools is £1,518.

Koulla Yiasouma, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, said:

“This survey clearly demonstrates that children in Northern Ireland are not enjoying their right to a free education. Financial support for parents on low incomes only applies to a small proportion of these costs and does not even begin to plug the gaps.

“It is wholly unacceptable that parents are getting into debt to pay for essential education costs, going without or considering cost when choosing to send their child to a certain school or on an educational trip.

“This situation should not be tolerated and schools, along with the Education Authority and the Department of Education, must act so that disadvantage stops at the school gate and every child’s experience of education is equal.”