Some schools around New Zealand are already asking parents to fork out for next year's stationery and a Wellington school principal says it may be a measure to ensure children are "able to start the year with all their stationery ready to go on the first day."
Berhampore Primary School Principal and NZEI member Mark Potter told TVNZ's Breakfast today schools may be trying to "spread the cost away from a very expensive time of the year".
"It could be something the school thinks is an efficiency, it means that children will be able to start the year with all their stationery ready to go on the first day," Mr Potter said.
"I would expect the school would have some explanation for the parents as to why they are doing this."
Mr Potter said as a principal, he is aware of the financial pressure schools can put on families and believes the government should be providing stationery to children across the country.
"Unfortunately in New Zealand we don't have free education. If you go to Scandinavian countries, it's free and everything through from devices through to pencils is supplied by the state and the schools.
"Personally I do believe we should be providing for the children, through the state, through the schools because what's been happening now is an... increasing taxation on parents because they are being asked to pick up more and more of the costs that schools can't afford on their own."
To avoid the anxiousness of looming school costs, Mr Potter suggests parents talk to their child's school and see if they can organise progressive payments.
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