Limbaruh Hijau, 26th December 2006: NDP is deeply concerned with a recent report stating that some 'hard-up' parents are now compelled to loan for school expenditures for their children, such as for school book and school uniform.

Based on a recent report in the local newspaper, a number of bookstores are currently holding jumbo ‘Back to School’ promotions to attract more customers. Some have offered special discounts while some have even offered bank loans.

What these stores are so ‘proud of’ is how so many parents have enlisted for the bank loans offered.

They claimed that some parents called while some even went to the stores themselves to inquire about it.

However, it is still uncertain of how much is being loaned by the banks in cooperation with the bookstores involved.

According to a report, the expenses per student would be roughly between $50 and $100, inclusive of spending for school uniform.

The same report showed that approximately $20.05 would be the expense required for a Primary One student, including 8 workbooks, and $24.50 for a Primary Six student, including 10 workbooks.

As for Secondary One students, the expense would only be $17.00, inclusive of 3 workbooks, and $18.70 for Secondary Three students, inclusive of workbooks.

NDP views this new development as worrying as it indicates that many parents in this country are having financial difficulty to the extent that they are forced to loan for just the sake of fulfilling the educational needs of the children.

It also gave an indication that this situation is growing, looking at the business opportunities t provides to retailers to enhance their sales and banks the opportunity to get more revenue through such loan facilities.

Of course for the purpose of lifting the burden off parents or guardians who intend to enroll their children to school, the loan schemes are rational and can serve the purpose.

On the contrary, when this is viewed from other aspects, it merely depicts how much of the people and residents of the country are having hard time to make ends meet.

Where do we go wrong as to trap our society in a web of debts and loans? Perhaps car loans are acceptable yet should loans for schoolbooks and pencils be consented as well?