Czech parents face rising costs as school year gets under way

The hike in education-related expenses remains a growing problem, especially for poor and single parents, but also for the children of refugees.

Transcript

00:00The first day of school is the beginning of a new stage of life for children and it's a great big holiday for them.

00:06118,000 first graders will start school this year in the Czech Republic and a total of 998,000 pupils will attend primary schools.

00:17For parents today, this means considerable financial expenditure.

00:22The start of school is quite demanding, from school allowance to aid, money, food, so it's definitely a big burden for the family.

00:33The first day of school will cost about 30,000 CZK.

00:38You need to add the cost of the school canteen, the after school club, sport or art clubs and other activities.

00:44The expenditures of school are also rising up mainly due to the increased heating and energy costs.

00:50The school had to raise its salaries, so since 2023 we have raised salaries for the school team, the canteen and the maternity ward.

01:20The canteen is the largest humanitarian centre in the Czech Republic with direct material aid.

01:26Here donors bring items they don't need, which can be then taken by parents in need after proper registration.

01:33The canteen is full every day. Every morning there are people in front of the canteen who are sitting for things.

01:37But the truth is that now there is a higher demand for aid to the school.

01:42The canteen is divided into a collection of school supplies, which is taking place right now.

01:50During the next week and the week after that they will be giving those school supplies for all parents and school children in need.

01:58In the Czech Republic, the admission of children to school is increasing again this year.

02:03That is why similar bazaars and courtyards are becoming more and more popular.

02:07Jiří Skáncel, Euronews, Prague