740 euros per child

School costs and inflation make parents moan

Exercise books, fountain pens and co - school materials cost.(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2023)

Parents in Upper Austria had to spend 740 euros per child on afternoon care, excursions and materials. And six out of ten families are cutting back on clothing and leisure time due to the rise in prices. These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor and the Upper Austrian newspaper "Krone".

That adds up to quite a lot: on average, parents in Upper Austria spend 409 euros per schoolchild on fee-based afternoon care. School trips and excursions cost an average of 183 euros. Added to this are school materials such as exercise books, crayons, rucksacks and sneakers as well as deductibles. In total, school costs between the fall and semester vacations add up to an average of 740 euros per child.

This was revealed by a survey conducted by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor (AK) and the "OÖ-Krone" newspaper, in which more than 1,700 parents took part and provided information for around 2,800 children.

6 out of 10 are financially burdened
The result: around 60 percent of the families surveyed perceive these school costs as a financial burden. Low-income households, job seekers and single parents are particularly affected.

The rise in prices is also making itself felt in parents' wallets: Six out of ten survey participants are cutting back on clothing purchases and family leisure activities due to inflation.

"To prevent inflation from having a negative impact on the future of our children, the state and federal governments should have taken more and faster countermeasures," says AK President Andreas Stangl about the survey results.

With the financial support of the AK Upper Austria while maintaining editorial independence