Save the Children NI also found 1 in 3 have to borrow money to pay for uniforms and PE kits
Northern Ireland families are having to cut back on food to pay for school uniforms while one in three need to borrow money to afford the cost, according to a new poll.It also found 78% of those surveyed believe authorities are not doing enough to keep down the cost of uniforms and PE kit and 99% want action.Almost half the parents who reported uniform costs as a challenge are from better-off households, while 73% of low-income households found covering the cost financially challenging.
The rising costs of school uniforms have been an issue for years, with many schools turning to branded PE kits which can often only bought from one supplier. Save the Children’s NI Policy & Public Affairs Adviser Naomi McBurney said: "For most families the uncapped cost of school uniforms and PE kits adds to their already stretched finances. This year more than ever budgets have been stretched and the pressure to afford even the most basic items has put many parents to the test.
"We urgently need to see action from school leaders and the Department of Education that better reflects what parents are saying. Children have a right to access education and this should not be overshadowed by an inability to afford uniforms. The poll has shown there is an overwhelming need and appetite from both parents and the public for action to be taken.
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