As the 2026-2027 school year approaches, rising education-related expenses are weighing heavily on family budgets. Lacking sufficient resources, many parents are resorting to loans to cover registration fees, tuition, and school supplies.
Standing in front of a bank to collect a money transfer from abroad, a mother waited for nearly an hour yesterday. The funds were lent to her by a relative living in France. “We borrowed money because we couldn’t gather the necessary funds to enroll our children this year. The cost of registration, September tuition, and school supplies has increased. For our two children, we need to find 700,000 ariary, which is far beyond our means,” says Joany Famenosoa, a parent.
With only a few days left before the start of the school year, some students remain unregistered. “Enrollment at our institution is normally finished. But some parents are asking for more time to pay the fees,” says an official from a private school. Some institutions have implemented payment facilities, such as allowing registration fees to be paid in installments. “But even with this support measure, some parents have not yet paid the registration fees,” the source adds.
These difficulties occur in a context of rising living costs. “With the constant increase in the cost of living and stagnant wages, our income is no longer enough to cover essential needs, including education,” explains Valisoa R., a private sector employee.
In response to these needs, some banks are offering loans specifically for school expenses. “Several clients are coming specifically to apply for a school loan,” a banking source indicates. According to another source, the interest rate offered is “generally around 2%, repayable over six months.”
For the families involved, education remains a priority expense. “Education is the only chance for our children to escape poverty,” says Kennedy Ramambason, a father who has taken out a loan himself.
However, resorting to credit carries additional risks for households whose budgets are already strained. An economist urges parents to assess their repayment capacity before taking on debt, noting that an accumulation of financial burdens could exacerbate their difficulties in the coming months. He also emphasizes the need to contain inflation to avoid further erosion of purchasing power during the loan repayment period.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-29 05:54:11 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/education-la-rentree-scolaire-contraint.html
