September 10, 2020
Whanau dread uniform bills
The head of the Mangere Budgeting Service wants schools to rethink their uniforms in light of the financial challenges on families because of COVID-19.
Darryl Evans says with wage subsidies running out people’s anxiety levels are on the rise, as is a demand for food parcels.
Whānau are also looking ahead to next year and the cost of school uniforms, stationery and sports gear.
"In my eyes, a polo shirt is a polo shirt, a pair of shorts is a pair of shorts. We shouldn't be putting high demand on families to be buying branded white shirts. One school I am aware of you have to buy a shirt brand, $71.
I popped into the Warehouse to do a price comparison, a pack of two shirts is $15," he says.
Mr Evans says it’s not good if kids are kept away from schools because parents can’t afford the right clothes.
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