KINGSTON, Jamaica —With the start of the 2022/2023 academic year fast approaching, many parents are making plans to ensure their children are fully equipped to handle the school year ahead.

Some have expressed a challenge, however, as they say that the price for books, uniforms, school fees, and even stationery supplies have increased over the last year.

Kimyka Samuda, whose child will be entering the second grade come September, stated that the price of her daughter’s school blouse has more than doubled since 2021.

“There have been drastic increases this year. I know last year I bought a blouse for her for $500 and now it’s $1000 and up,” Samuda said.

She added that the price for books have also increased, though she has not felt the brunt of this as her daughter’s primary school only requires two textbooks.

As for her other school supplies, Samuda said she decided to use online shopping to offset costs.

“At Walmart I get everything cheaper. All her stationery items were like a little over US$30 and even with shipping, that is cheaper by far than if I were to buy everything out here,” she disclosed.

Another parent, whose child is three-years-old and entering Kindergarten 1, said she is also experiencing the high cost of back-to-school preparations as it relates to the cost of school fees.

“School fee per term overall has increased. Caleb is currently entering K1, and while the fee is a reduction from what was paid in Pre-k, when I compared what the cost for k1 was last year there would have been an increase this year,” Shellice Tyson said.

She also disclosed that prices of books and school supplies have increased for her preschooler, adding that she has also used online shopping along with other benefits from work to offset costs.

“The prices of books and school supplies have definitely increased over last year. In terms of offsetting costs, I would order some supplies online or ask relatives overseas to pick up items and take them down for me which works out a little cheaper for some items. Textbooks are definitely purchased at the local bookstores but thankfully my employer offers assistance with child education so some of the cost would have been covered greatly by this,” Tyson added.

Meanwhile, Denise Lewis, who has two children in high school, told OBSERVER ONLINE that she is feeling the pressure of back-to-school preparation, even with government assistance programmes such as the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

“Yes there’s an increase in the fees and the fact that they made them not payable through government assistance, there is a little strain,” she said.

“Uniforms and even the ties, crest and epaulets for school have increased as well,” Lewis added, explaining that this would be doubled as her children will be entering grades 11 and nine when the academic year begins in two weeks.

Lewis said her plan is to buy the essentials that she can afford in order to get the children started, and purchase the others as they are needed or as the year progresses.

When asked if there are any other concerns ahead of the academic year, Tyson said that her only issue is with the growing cases of monkeypox, being reported in Jamaica.

“In terms of back to school, my only concern is the rising cases of Monkeypox within the island, we also still have COVID lingering around. Caleb for one is just three-years-old and these children are not easily controlled in terms of distancing or wearing masks or constant washing of hands and so forth,” she said.

“I just hope things do not go out of control where the opening of school will be halted, because online school is definitely not something my three-year-old can handle; especially seeing that I would also be working and wouldn’t have time to provide proper supervision of his sessions,” Tyson added.

So far, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed four cases of Monkeypox in the island, and has cautioned residents to follow protocols similar to those associated with the coronavirus, in order to prevent transmission of the viruses.