Without metaphor, Buenos Aires students - and especially parents - will have to carry a
“heavy backpack” for the start of classes in 2024.
A survey carried out by the Provincial Ombudsman's Office determined that the school basket (of 35 items compared in stores mass consumption) had
an average increase of 450% in one year.
The organization made a comparative table with the prices of February 2023 and the same month of 2024 and revealed surprising highlights in some of the supplies that are essential to return to the classrooms.
The top brand graphite pencil, with an increase of
869% in 12 months;
common 10-sheet glacé paper, with an increase of 818%;
and the 48-sheet Éxito hardcover lined notebook, with an increase of 732%, make up the podium of increases.
The product that moved “least” was the white duster, which varied by 380%.
Grouped by categories, the Ombudsman's study shows that “school supplies” had an average increase of 502%, school sports shoes, 438%, and school clothing grew by 380%.
As explained by the technicians of the state entity, a table was made with prices obtained in supermarkets such as Carrefour, Disco, Chango Mas and Coto.
Also in consultations with the Mercado Libre platform, in companies such as Ledesma, Tomy, Blinki, Peroni, Papelería Carranza or Casa Gini.
And specialized shops in La Plata and other cities: Show Office, Batik, Alot or Lavalle.
“The price of the products most requested by teachers and school clothing products
was monitored .
It was confronted on the same date of the two years and produced this result that is impossible to explain,” the Ombudsman, Guido Lorenzino,
told
Clarín .
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School Basket year 2024
Tap to explore data
Source:
PROVINCIAL DEFENSORY OF BUENOS AIRES
Infographic:
Clarín
Some prices
For the period under analysis, the items that registered the greatest increases were: “1st brand graphite pencil”: it went from 160 pesos last year to 1,300.
The “Glacé Paper 10 common sheets”, from 58 pesos in February 2023 to $475 this year.
And the “Séxito-hardcover lined notebook 48 sheets 57 grams”,
from 720 to 5,271 pesos.
On the sky-high list is the “lined notebook 100 sheets 90 grs.
Rivadavia-hardcover”, from $1,390 to an average of $10,000.
The 20 cm 60° plastic square per unit went from $140 to $986, on average.
The cost of
assembling a backpack with basic and economical products is around $46,633 in February 2024,
according to the Ombudsman's study. Includes: three lined notebooks 48 sheets 57grs.
Éxito-hard cover, wooden colored pencils x 6 units, school fiber x 6 units, blue pen, black graphite pencil, economical pencil eraser, ink/pencil eraser, 30g vinyl adhesive, square, ruler and protractor, pencil sharpener plastic, 8u temperas, drawing folder and spare sheets.
Also added as a reference is a cheap hanging backpack at 15,000 and a basic pencil case at 1,000.
In the event that the quality of the backpack and the pencil case varies, for example, a “Footy unicorn sequin backpack”, for $66,933, and a “Footy unicorn pencil case, $31,999 pesos, the cost goes to $129,560.
Based on these prices, the agency evaluated that a typical family with two school-age children
needs $233,600 in February
to face the start of classes, if they opt for the most economical products, including backpacks, supplies and clothing.
On the other hand, if you opt for more expensive items, you may have to spend up to $493,736, the study says.
To this must be added - in the case of those who choose the private education system -
the monthly tuition fees
.
In the Province, those who have contributions from the state (about 4,800 schools) charge between 15 thousand and 80 thousand pesos according to the latest increase authorized by the government of Axel Kicillof.
But that happened in December.
Now, the entities that bring together the educational institutes propose a new readjustment based on
inflation in January and February.
And also from the salary improvements authorized by the government.
Now, Javier Milei's administration announced
"aid" for parents who send their children to private schools.
There are no details about the measures, although there was talk of vouchers to support some expenses.
While awaiting these definitions, this Friday it was reported that there will be an increase in the school subsidy charged to registered workers who have children in school.
It will go from 18 thousand pesos to 70 thousand.
It is charged once a year.
As a suggestion for parents who must face this challenge of accessing the school basket, the Ombudsman's Office suggests that "it is necessary to inform yourself, compare and not be fooled, adopting a conscious and critical approach to purchasing decisions in this challenging economic context." said Lorenzino.
It happens that the review indicates that there is a
deep price disparity for the same product.
“Added to the existence of asymmetric information between price makers and consumers, it exposes them to being victims of high increases by certain businesses as there are no reference prices,” added the official.
La Plata (Correspondent)