The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group says that the South African government should introduce a special ‘back to school’ grant in the country to assist parents with preparations for getting their kids ready for the new school year.
“We advocate that the government provides some type of additional grant allocation every January to assist parents with their children’s new school year expenses, thereby securing a sounder foundation to support education, whilst reducing debt incurred at the beginning of the year, which haunts parents throughout the year,” the group said.
“This special Back-to-School grant, targeted directly for the new school year, would provide a focussed investment for improved education outcomes whilst alleviating some of the financial pressures on parents.”
The proposal comes against the backdrop of the rising cost of living in South Africa, with the PMBEJD arguing that measures in place – such as the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and other social grants – not being enough to help the vast majority of the population.
