Barnardos’ 11th annual School Costs Survey is now open and there are just ten days left for parents to shine a light on the real cost to families of Ireland’s ‘free’ education system.
Barnardos are particularly keen to hear the views of parents of school-age children (primary and secondary), from Roscommon as so far only a small number of completed the survey.
Parents are asked to tell Barnardos how much money they spend on their children’s education – school books, clothing, footwear, photocopying fees, voluntary contributions and any other additional costs.
Parents can take the Barnardos School Costs Survey online at www.barnardos.ie/schoolcosts16. The survey will close on Sunday night (24 July) at midnight.
June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos, said, “School may be out for the summer, but already back to school blues are kicking in for far too many parents. We are told we have a ‘free’ education system but as our annual survey shows this is far from the case. We want to hear from parents in Roscommon to uncover the actual cost of getting your children equipped for school in 2016.”