Rising cost of living puts pressure on parents' back-to-school finances in Germany

euronews (in English)

The German national statistics office said that school supplies like pens and books rose between 5 and 13% in July last year compared to the year before.

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00:00Lilla Greisbach is an academic in Berlin, juggling taking care of her two children with

00:09preparing university lectures.

00:12Every year, her and her husband get a list from the school of what supplies are needed

00:18before their children head back to the classroom.

00:21It could cost up to 300 euros for one child.

00:25The first time when I saw the list, I got a shock because there are a lot of things.

00:31But on the one hand, it's okay that it's a very good structure and you know what your

00:36child needs, but it's very expensive.

00:42Families are facing rising costs in Germany.

00:44The National Statistics Office says that school supplies, like pens and books, rose between

00:50five and 13 percent in July last year, compared to the year before.

00:56Parents in need of financial support can get 195 euros for school supplies per child.

01:02But the Berlin Child Protection Association says that's not enough.

01:07Backpacks alone can cost 150 euros, when they're specially designed to protect a child's shoulders

01:13and back.

01:15Costs also differ from state to state.

01:18School lunches are free in Berlin, from grades one to six.

01:21In Hamburg, they cost a maximum of four euros and 35 cents.

01:28Students can get a free education in Germany, even when they go to university.

01:32But some parents are increasingly choosing to pay, sending their children to private

01:37schools.

01:38One expert says that this could be due to rising immigration to Germany.

01:43When you ask them what is better at private schools, they say the educational program

01:49or the curricula or something.

01:52But in most cases, also in Germany, the share of migrants, the share of poor children is

02:05even lower.

02:06And that may be one thing that has impact.

02:12Immigration has gone down to its lowest level in more than three years in Germany.

02:17But Leila is still feeling the financial pressure as a working mom.

02:22She says parents get more support in her native Georgia, where relatives have a greater role

02:27in helping take care of the children.

02:29I have the impression that the costs are getting higher because everything is getting expensive

02:38and therefore I think it's automatically expensive every year.

02:45On top of all the costs, she also has to pay for a babysitter after hours while she works.

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