Parents Bemoan High Cost of Sending Children to School
PETALING JAYA: The dawn of a New Year means a new hole in the pocket for parents with school-going children.
Malaysian parents who send their children to a government schools can easily spend up to RM600 for school uniform, fees, textbooks and other essentials per child.
“Going to school is an expensive affair. During my time, we paid about RM12 for school fees,” said Cabrina Ang, 44.
Today, school fees are about RM110.
The sales manager, who sends her son to SK Bandar Baru in Sri Petaling, said she would also have to send him to a day-care centre after school since both she and her husband work.
“That costs a further RM360. But it comes with tuition as well as a hot meal.”
She noted that a one-way bus ride would cost RM40 a month.
“It really isn’t cheap to send children to school these days. I think those in the lower income group will feel the pinch even more,” she said.
Parents who send their children to private schools foot an even bigger bill as fees alone average about RM8,000 a year.
“However, I think it’s worth it because the classes are smaller and my son gets more attention from the teachers,” said Pearlie Tan, 37, whose son attends Sri Nobel Primary School in Kelana Jaya.
“Besides lunch, there are also extra classes like arts, gardening or computer lessons till 3.30pm,” she said.
