Prices of books, stationary and uniform hike as schools set to reopen

The parents were shaken-up after listening to the prices of stationery items and course material after visiting the markets for back-to-school shopping.

The rates of stationery and school supplies have surged in the markets as the educational institutions are all set to reopen from September 15 after around six-month-long closure, which was imposed to control the spread of coronavirus.

With students demanding to get new items for their academic year, the stationery and uniform shops in different areas of Rawalpindi experienced a rush of parents and children.

However, the parents and guardians received a blow after finding out revised rates of course books, copies, uniforms, bags, and other related items. The rates of new course books have increased by 30% along with copies and registers, it was observed during a survey by The Express Tribune.

A 280-page copy was selling Rs70 instead of its normal rate of Rs50 while a 560-page copy was selling for Rs200 with an increase of 100% in its price. The registers of different sizes and quality were available in the range of Rs200-250.

Shopkeepers claimed that rates of essential stationery items including scale, eraser, and stationery box have surged due overall inflation in the economy. All imported goods, particularly school bags and pencil boxes have become dearer in step with the US dollar. While school uniforms have become expensive owing to hike in the cost of production of cloth, they said.

Parents said they have gone under a severe financial burden due to the imposition of new charges by private schools in the name of coronavirus and dengue funds. The private institutions have also arbitrarily hiked admission fees to cover up for their losses during the pandemic situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2020.