Parents are spending huge sums of money for books and other school items.

Back-to-school is at the corner. All roads are leading to different market squares in the country. Markets and streets in the nation’s capital are bustling with traders and buyers as people prepare for the up-coming school year. The effervescence that characterised school resuming since early August is reaching high gear with school items being sold in all the nooks and crannies of each market in Yaounde and its environs. Nowadays, there are many hawkers dealing in school items and many traders have changed their line of goods to focus on didactic materials given that many who visit markets these days go for school needs.

Books

Ahead of September 3^rd parents seem to curb expenses on other aspects of daily life just to have enough money to purchase the necessary books for their children. Parents say most text books recognised by the government are sold in bookshops and some school premises although there is a press-release that forbids the sale of didactic materials on school campuses. Parents say books sold in bookshops are less expensive than those sold in school premises. The difference could be up to FCFA 1,000 and more. Parents however lament that textbooks for secondary school students are expensive, although they receive a discount when buying from a bookshop. Such books range from CFA 3,500 and above. Books for kindergarten and primary schools are less expensive. Talking about exercise books, the prices are almost same be it in the market, shops or with mobile traders. The cost of exercise books goes from FCFA 2,500 to 5,000, depending on the number of pages. According to a trader, an exercise book of 500 pages with a hard cover costs FCFA 1,800, a book with 300 pages sells at FCFA 700 and that with 280 pages is FCFA 650.

Uniform

Tailors and traders are busy preparing the various uniforms needed by pupils and students. This is particularly for public schools whose uniforms are common to fine. The cost of uniforms depends on the age of the child and the quality of the material which could be made from a Cicam or that imported from Nigeria. Uniforms for children between five and eight years are sold at FCFA 4000 to 4,500. Those from 12 to 18 years purchase their uniforms between FCFA 6,000 to 9,000.

The prices of other school items such as shoes also depend on the cost and type. Generally, parents say it is difficult to get shoes for boys which could cost from FCFA 3,000 to 20,000. Shoes for girls go from FCFA 2,000 to 6,000.