With the start of the school year just a few weeks away, families are gradually beginning their preparations. However, for many parents, this period represents a significant financial burden.
“We have three children to send to school. Tuition, registration fees, supplies, school bags, and mandatory uniforms represent a huge budget for our family.” The situation of Lalaina, a mother who shared her testimony, is far from an isolated case.
Between registration fees, tuition, school supplies, bags, and uniforms required by some schools, expenses accumulate even before classes resume. While the prices of school supplies have only seen a slight increase according to some parents, the necessary budget remains high. Schools require all materials to be ready on the first day of class. Added to this are registration-related costs, including enrollment fees, tuition, and other incidental expenses.
In some schools, these fees must be paid in advance before a student can be admitted. This situation poses an additional constraint for families with multiple children. Parents must find ways to spread out expenses and ensure their children can return to school.
Faced with this, parents are adopting different strategies to limit spending. Some prefer to buy supplies little by little to spread the costs over several weeks. Others, with more financial means, choose to buy all the necessary materials at once as the start of the school year approaches.
In the markets, there are still few parents buying school supplies.
For some households, every expense must be carefully considered, and choices must be made to ensure the essentials. “We are asking our child to keep their old school bag this year because we are struggling,” says Mr. Edmond.
With several children to support, the start of the school year becomes a real financial challenge for some families. Despite the constraints, parents strive to prepare their children so they can return to class in good conditions. As the start of the school year approaches, purchases are expected to gradually increase in markets and specialized shops, in line with the financial possibilities of each family.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-07 06:08:51 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/education-la-rentree-scolaire-pese-sur.html