Parents raise eyebrows at surprising stationery items on back-to-school lists

by Nomonde Simelane

As back-to-school time inches closer and closer, parents have voiced concerns over certain items that educators have included in this year’s stationery lists.

Back-to-school is almost always a stressful time for parents of all ages and grades as it means last-minute preparations for their children’s anticipated return and start of school. Stationery lists are one component that brings about stress for parents as they can get pretty pricey, however, parents have voiced their frustrations with schools and educators with some of the items that have been included in the lists.

Taking to social media, these parents have been revealing some shocking items that they are required to purchase for their children’s stationery lists. Some parents have gone to the extent of engaging the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube via social media to get to the bottom of why they were required to buy non-stationery items for their children’s stationery lists, and further intervene on the matter.

According to parents, these lists include items such as 18-pack toilet papers, and cleaning essentials such as Handy Andy, Pine Gel and Domestos, which has parents wondering why the sudden change from the department. They have speculated that schools are now delegating the department’s job of providing these supplies to the parents.

It wouldn’t be mzansi if people did not use humour to cope with unfortunate circumstances, and that is exactly what parents and users have been doing while trying to figure out how to deal with it. The lists also have future parents concerned about what kind of items will be included by the time they decide to have children.

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