Parents still grapple with the pandemic as school sessions set to start

IPOH - The school session for 2022 is set to start on Monday and parents are getting busy preparing to buy clothes and school supplies for their children.

Most parents stated that they only bought clothes and school supplies that are only necessary as they are still worried over the possibility of school closure due to Covid-19.

A housewife, Nur Faizah Hamzar, 41, said she is busy with school preparations for her children but was still concerned whether schools sessions in the future will be carried out via Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR).

"I have six children. Today I bought school clothes for my second child, Muhammad Afiq Syazwan Sharizal who is 15.

“I only bought one because I'm worried whether schools will suddenly close due to Covid-19. However, I am still preparing my children to return to school,” she said.

Khadijah Othman, 35, also made the preparations for her three children aged 12 and 11, including the youngest child aged five who will enter kindergarten soon.

“Previously, we did not make any preparations as the school session took place with PdPR and rotation basis, so with the time left in the next few days, I hope that I will be able to complete all the preparation for the children.

"I boughn two pairs of clothes, one for the morning session and one for religious school session, while for other needs, they still used old clothes that are in good condition," she said.

Meanwhile, Econsave Supermarket Operations Manager, Mas Imran Adam said, the price of school equipment this year is not much different than last year.

“Parents have started to make early preparations by buying their children's school supplies such as clothes, stationery and school bags.

"In fact, we have also held a back-to-school promotion since the end of February," said Mas Imran.

Shopping on a budget

Most parents are also cautious about how they spend on school supplies, balancing between a tight budget and their children's schooling needs.

A private sector employee, Siti Hawa Mohd Zin, 37, said more than RM1,000 had been spent to buy school supplies and pay school fees for her three daughters, aged 10, seven and five.

According to her, the cost has doubled compared to RM500 previously allocated as some school supplies went up in price.

“The price of shirts, scarves and shoes are more expensive than last year, causing my husband and I to save more, instead of providing two pairs of shirts, this year we only bought one pair.

"For the second child who has just entered Year One, I re-use her sister's clothes which are still in good condition for going to school," she told Sinar Harian.

A housewife, Norfatihah Ahmad Shari, 41, said she and her husband is facing challenges in meeting their three children's schooling needs.

She and her husband who work as palm oil workers only use existing school uniforms, bags and stationery as most of them are still in good condition.

“My husband and I provide around RM500 for the children's school needs, but it was used to pay for fees and school books.

"Coincidentally, the youngest receives school equipment assistance so it can help to ease our burden as parents," she said.

Meanwhile, laundry worker Wan Ahmad Affendy Mohd Yaakob, 34, said he had to bear the increased cost of his children's school necessities which forced him to reduce other expenses.

He explained after two years of not properly being school, he had to bought new clothes and shoes for his children as their old ones no longer fit

“My wife and I have bought the school supplies for our 14 and 12-year-old children.

“Almost RM400 was spent on buying two pairs of clothes for each one of them and that was bought only at regular shops, not even at the supermarket,” he said.