Survey: school preparation costs for many families exceed €500; charity campaign starts in August
A new survey shows that 64% of Latvian parents spend between €100 and over €500 on preparing their child for school, creating financial strain for many. In August, shopping centres and charity organizations will launch a support campaign for families.
With the new school year approaching, many families in Latvia are facing significant expenses. According to a survey conducted by research centre “Norstat Latvija” in July on behalf of “Akropole Latvija”, 64% of parents said that preparing a child for school costs anywhere from €100 to more than €500. At the same time, 37% of respondents indicated that their planned budget does not exceed €100, revealing a gap between expected and actual spending.
How parents are adapting
To cope with the costs, nearly half – 46% – of parents deliberately look for discounts, while 29% rely on reusing school supplies from previous years. When choosing items, price and quality remain the decisive factors, while children’s personal preferences are often pushed into the background.
The survey also shows that parents’ biggest concern before the school year is their child’s emotional well-being, mentioned by 55% of respondents. Learning results worry 41%, while school spending is a concern for 36%. Bullying at school worries 28% of parents, and the impact of the digital environment – including social media, screen time and cybersecurity – concerns 23% of those surveyed.
Expert: financial burden adds to stress
The head of the research centre, Linda Ezera, notes that preparing for the new school year is an emotionally intense time for many families, and the financial load further increases that tension. She points out that any practical support that helps provide a child with what they need for school also reduces parental stress.
Despite adults’ worries, children generally look forward to the new school year positively. According to 49% of parents, their children take the return to school calmly, while 31% experience slight anxiety but manage to handle it.
Charity campaign in August
To help families for whom the start of school is a heavy financial burden, “Akropole”, together with charity organization “Ziedot.lv” and the Latvian Parents’ Organization, is organizing a campaign called “Let’s help get ready for school together!”. It will run from 3 to 29 August. Residents are invited to donate new clothes, shoes, school supplies and other useful items, as well as money, for children from low-income families. Donation boxes will be placed at “Akropole Alfa” and “Akropole Rīga” shopping centres, and cashless donations can be made at special stands or on the “ziedot.lv” website.
Kaspars Beitiņš, CEO of “Akropole Latvija”, notes that 275 families have applied for support this year – more than double the number from the previous year.
