Though the government launched a financial support programme guaranteeing 15 years of free education, parents still need to have a back-up plan for other expenses regarding school supplies.
Parents said the government's financial support is insufficient when it comes to uniforms, stationery and textbooks. They had to spend their own money to cover this area of expenditure. They demanded more money from the government to help them with the extra expenses.
Pawn shops in many provinces are preparing spare money to assist parents who are in need of money for their children before schools reopen in the middle of this month.
Moreover, government sectors also provide services to reduce expenses for parents during this high-spending season.
Banguern Kongmeesab, a mother of a third grade student and a kindergarten student in Angthong province, said she had to pay about Bt600 more on each of her kid's uniform apart from the money for uniforms granted by the government.
Oradee Wongsatorn, a mother of a sixth grade student in Udon Thani, called on the government to provide more financial assis-tance for other needed supplies.
"The government's uniform fee pays only for one set of uniforms, which means only a school shirt and a skirt for girl or a pant for boy. In reality, however, one student needs more than a set of uniforms. He or she has to have a school bag, socks and shoes. Moreover, uniform for gymnastics plus uniforms for boy and girl scouts are required as well. The government should look at this fact and increase the amount of funds," said Oradee.
State pawn shops in Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phuket and Mahasarakham have made available large amount of money to aid parents who need the cash for children's school supplies. Parents are able to trade their valuables such as gold or electronic devices for cash with a lower rate of interest than private pawn shops.
The mayor of Hat Yai Municipality in Songkhla province will provide free school buses for students in the area to help reduce parents' expenses and to lessen traffic jams.
The Department of Internal Trade in Phitsanulok has arranged an event called "Blue Flag: Cheap Price Fairs" which features more than 70 shops selling products at low prices in order to help low-income parents who spend a fair amount of money on children's education.