CHP's Karakoz announces costs, stating 'educating a child has become a luxury': School uniform and stationery expenses approach 10 thousand liras

CHP's Evrim Karakoz compared the prices of school uniforms and stationery products with the previous year, shortly before the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. 

'EDUCATING A CHILD HAS BECOME A LUXURY'

Karakoz's statement on the matter is as follows:

"Parents, who have succumbed to high inflation in every field, are uncomfortable with the price increases experienced in many products, from notebooks to pens, and from bags to shoes. The price increases since the previous year have broken the backs of parents. Parents cannot afford the stationery products sold in either stationery stores or chain markets. When we compare the previous year with this year, it has become almost impossible to buy even the most basic needs of students; the prices of school uniforms and basic stationery expenses have risen significantly. In today's Turkey, the cost of educating a child has increased, and in fact, educating a child has become a luxury.

SCHOOL UNIFORM EXPENSES ARE 7 THOUSAND 200 LIRAS

Parents who spent an average of 1 thousand 550 liras last year for a classic three-piece set consisting of trousers, a shirt, and a sweater will spend an average of 2 thousand 500 liras for the same products this year. Similarly, while a normal pair of sneakers was bought for 700 liras last year, it is being bought for 1 thousand 200 liras this year; a zippered jacket that was 700 liras is 1 thousand 300 liras, and a tracksuit set that was 1 thousand 200 liras is being bought for 2 thousand 200 liras. It is necessary to set aside a budget of at least 7 thousand 200 liras for a student's classic three-piece set, shoes, zippered jacket, and tracksuit set. Compared to the previous year, the cost of dressing a student has increased by 75.60 percent. 

STATIONERY EXPENSES INCREASED BY AT LEAST 78 PERCENT

While an average of 1 thousand 157 liras was spent on the most basic stationery expenses last year, this figure increased by 78.82 percent to an average of 2 thousand 69 liras this year. A backpack, which was an average of 445 liras last year, rose to 900 liras with a 102.24 percent increase; a drawing notebook, which was 76 liras, rose to 166 liras with a 118.42 percent increase; and a 24-piece pastel crayon set, which was sold for 86 liras, rose to 172 liras with a 99.99 percent increase. Parents have become unable to cope with these increases in stationery materials.

'PARENTS CANNOT COPE WITH SCHOOL EXPENSES'

When we look at the average expenses of a student, we see that they need to spend an average of 7 thousand 200 liras for clothing expenses and 2 thousand 69 liras for stationery materials. The total cost of just school uniforms and stationery expenses is 9 thousand 269 liras. Looking at these costs, it is not possible for our parents to cope with either clothing expenses or stationery expenses. This government has left students barefoot, without bags or notebooks, and parents penniless. In our country, where the quality of education is at rock bottom, leaving students in need of even the most basic school supplies is the government's greatest shame. The government must provide for the school expenses of students in need."