School supply expenses rise 21 percent in 2020

Duvar English

The average school supply expenses for a student beginning school in Turkey this year has increased 21 percent compared to 2019, according to research carried out by the Eğitim-Sen educators union.

The survey was conducted based on ananalysis of 137 supplies commonly purchased by elementary, middle andhigh school students prior to the beginning of the school year.

Amid a low minimum wage and low salaries in general, rising inflation and a struggling Turkish lira that has plummeted by around 20 percent this year against the dollar, the price for basic consumer goods has soared, making it difficult for Turkish families to meet their needs as purchasing power continues to decline.

The average supply and expenses cost for a first-grade student in Turkey was determined to be 2,302 Turkish Liras, a 27 percent increase since last year. The current net minimum wage in Turkey stands at 2,324 liras, meaning it would take nearly an entire month's salary of a minimum wage earner to meet the school costs of their child entering elementary school.

The school supply costs for middle school students and high school students increased by 23 percent and 18 percent respectively in 2020 compared to last year.

The research did not take into accountadditional costs such as mandatory donations that parents had to maketo their children's schools, money collected to improve conditions inthe classroom, and allowances given to students by their parents.