Devices ramp up back-to-school costs

Queensland parents are expected to spend almost $400 million on back-to-school items this year, with digital devices now one of the biggest burdens on state school families’ budgets.

Jessica Gibbs, 10, and Jordyn Gibbs, 15, with their devices. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

QUEENSLAND parents are expected to spend almost $400 million on back-to-school items this year, with digital devices now one of the biggest burdens on state school families’ budgets.

The first term of 2019 starts next week, with the ­National Retail Association tipping that Queenslanders will have spent about $385 million on supplies – or $465 for every full-time student.

One of the biggest buys during back-to-school sales has been electronic devices for primary school students.

“We’ve seen a rapid acceleration in those figures in recently years, as the traditional booklist has morphed to include electronic devices such as laptop computers or tablets for many schools,” NRA deputy chief executive Lindsay Carroll said.

Brent Gibbs with Jordyn, 15, and Jessica, 10, as they prepare to start the school year. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said most public schools were now asking parents to purchase an iPad or Surface tablet as a one-off expense

Brisbane father Brent Gibbs believed he had to spend about $1600 on his daughter Jessica for a new laptop, but it was not a mandatory requirement at Rochedale State School.

Education Queensland said Rochedale State School does not have a BYOx program and recently allocated about $100,000 for student devices and student-owned devices that aren’t used at the school.

The Department of Education has been rolling out its BYOx (bring your own device) program since 2013. A spokesman said the decision to implement BYOx was made by principals in consultation with their school communities.

“Participation in BYOx programs is not mandatory and state schools that choose to adopt the program work with individual families to ensure that any child who does not have their own device is not disadvantaged in accessing the curriculum,” he said.

The department spokesman said schools have devices available for students who don’t have their own, but some parents believe their child is disadvantaged without their own device to use at home.

Brisbane mum Kayla Peters is one of those parents, buying her eight-year-old daughter an iPad for $519.

“To be honest I don’t like it,” she said. “(Children) are losing vital skills like writing. I know technology is the way of the world but I think primary school kids don’t need them.”

Another mum told The Courier-Mail she bought her two children laptops – one only five years old – because she didn’t want them to feel like they were missing out.

“I am not thrilled but … if I don’t purchase one then my child will possibly fall behind,” she said.