Increase in prices of school supplies this year
school supplies
07 Sep 2022
/ 10:58
CORFU. How much parents will have to pay for school supplies and extracurricular activities this year.
Parents are facing another financial burden at the start of the new school year with purchase of necessary school supplies, which, with the cost of various extracurricular activities, will take a large 'bite' out of their monthly income.
With prices increasing rapidly and salaries remaining the same, parents are finding it more and more difficult to pay for the school supplies required for their children.
The General Secretary of Corfu Stationers Association Ms. Souli told Enimerosi that there has been an average price increase of approximately 10% compared to last year. "There have been big price increases for most items but we have managed again this year to keep them down as much as we can, helping small manufacturers and keeping the increases at around 10% for all products," she said. "The big increase is due to the fact that they include plastic and paper and the price of paper has doubled in eight months."
Prices
Pencil cases, notebooks and felt-tip pens are more expensive than last year whereas most schoolbags have approximately the same prices as last year. There is, of course, a wide range of prices but those who choose designer goods will have to dig deep in their pockets. Pencil cases are 10-20% more expensive and prices range from €1.60 to €14 with all the necessary items in them.
50-page notebooks cost from €0.60-0.80, spiral notebooks from €2,20-2,50, felt-tip pens from €1.60-4.00, pencils from €0.30-1.29, pens from €0.69-2.49. erasers from €0.69-1.49, correcting tapes are around €2 and correcting fluid around €0.99, scissors are €1.30, flasks €4-9 and lunch boxes €5.99-8.99.
According to Ms. Souli, there are 10% discounts for schoolbags - a basic shoulder bag can cost between €25 and €38.90 and a bag with wheels from €45.90-58.90. Foreign language books can cost from €80-100, depending on the publisher and the year.
List of items
People started buying school supplies in the middle of last month - mostly for schoolbags. It is expected that sales will peak next week, when schools open and parents have the list of items required. Parents will need to spend €30-50 for these items, not including the schoolbag.
Extracurricular activities
There are also the extracurricular activities to be taken into account. These have mainly kept last year's prices. Enrolment at language schools has already begun, where, in a lot of cases, there are discounts for siblings, members of large families and families from vulnerable groups.
Tuition fees at language schools range from €30 to €50 per month in the lowest classes for English (for German and French it is €50-60) and for First and Proficiency it costs €120-170 per month.
Dance schools - €40-600 per month.
Football academies - €35-40 per month.
AO Kerkyra Athletics - For children up to 11 years of age. €25 per month (€5 increase from last year).
Corfu Gymnastics Association - €20-25 per month for athletics, basketball, handball, table tennis or cricket.
NAOK - €35 for swimming, water polo or rowing.
In practical terms this means that a child that is learning one foreign language (in the lowest classes) and takes part in at least one sports activity will need between €55 and €110 a month. The higher foreign language classes are more expensive so, along with one sports activity it will cost between €140 and €230 a month.
With prices increasing rapidly and salaries remaining the same, parents are finding it more and more difficult to pay for the school supplies required for their children.
The General Secretary of Corfu Stationers Association Ms. Souli told Enimerosi that there has been an average price increase of approximately 10% compared to last year. "There have been big price increases for most items but we have managed again this year to keep them down as much as we can, helping small manufacturers and keeping the increases at around 10% for all products," she said. "The big increase is due to the fact that they include plastic and paper and the price of paper has doubled in eight months."
Prices
Pencil cases, notebooks and felt-tip pens are more expensive than last year whereas most schoolbags have approximately the same prices as last year. There is, of course, a wide range of prices but those who choose designer goods will have to dig deep in their pockets. Pencil cases are 10-20% more expensive and prices range from €1.60 to €14 with all the necessary items in them.
50-page notebooks cost from €0.60-0.80, spiral notebooks from €2,20-2,50, felt-tip pens from €1.60-4.00, pencils from €0.30-1.29, pens from €0.69-2.49. erasers from €0.69-1.49, correcting tapes are around €2 and correcting fluid around €0.99, scissors are €1.30, flasks €4-9 and lunch boxes €5.99-8.99.
According to Ms. Souli, there are 10% discounts for schoolbags - a basic shoulder bag can cost between €25 and €38.90 and a bag with wheels from €45.90-58.90. Foreign language books can cost from €80-100, depending on the publisher and the year.
List of items
People started buying school supplies in the middle of last month - mostly for schoolbags. It is expected that sales will peak next week, when schools open and parents have the list of items required. Parents will need to spend €30-50 for these items, not including the schoolbag.
Extracurricular activities
There are also the extracurricular activities to be taken into account. These have mainly kept last year's prices. Enrolment at language schools has already begun, where, in a lot of cases, there are discounts for siblings, members of large families and families from vulnerable groups.
Tuition fees at language schools range from €30 to €50 per month in the lowest classes for English (for German and French it is €50-60) and for First and Proficiency it costs €120-170 per month.
Dance schools - €40-600 per month.
Football academies - €35-40 per month.
AO Kerkyra Athletics - For children up to 11 years of age. €25 per month (€5 increase from last year).
Corfu Gymnastics Association - €20-25 per month for athletics, basketball, handball, table tennis or cricket.
NAOK - €35 for swimming, water polo or rowing.
In practical terms this means that a child that is learning one foreign language (in the lowest classes) and takes part in at least one sports activity will need between €55 and €110 a month. The higher foreign language classes are more expensive so, along with one sports activity it will cost between €140 and €230 a month.
