Chronicle Editor
Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
With parents trying to make ends meet in paying school fees and buying new uniforms for their children, their headache has been doubled by the prices of exercise books.
In separate interviews parents revealed that the new curriculum demands an average of 12 hard cover exercise books from primary school to high school.
A four quire counter book costs an average of $7, a two quire is pegged at an average of $4 while A4 32 page costs $1 and a 72 pages exercise book goes for $2.50. Infant exercise books are pegged at an average of $1.50 each. This calculates to an average budget of $100 to be set aside for stationery.
Mrs Anna Nkomo whose child is going for Grade Four said the school needs eight two quire counter books and five A4 exercise books.
“I used $42 just for exercise books for a Grade Three child. If l add pens, pencils and bond paper, mathematical set and agriculture diaries it amounts to $100.This is the most stressing term since my child started school,” she said.
Mr Melusi Mpofu whose twin children are going for form three said they need 15 four quire counter books and 20 seventy-two pages exercise books and other stationery each.
“I spent around $300 just for stationery. It’s difficult but for the sake of our children’s education we have to sacrifice,” he said.
Retailers justified their price hikes saying they are responding to what other businesses are doing.
“This has become the order of the day. At least we are still charging in bond notes, others are charging in foreign currency,” said one of the retailers in the city centre.
Vendors have taken advantage of the situation and are charging prices slightly cheaper than those in shops with a four quire hard cover book going for $5 compared to $7 in shops. — @tamary98
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