Thursday, February 7, 2008

No such thing as free education

There's no such thing as a free education, even in the public school system, and the cost of an education is only getting more expensive.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the cost of education rose 6.3 percent in 2005.

Australian Scholarships Group general manager Warwick James estimates it will cost up to $250,000 to educate a child born in 2006 right through secondary school and university.

"Most people fail to realise how much their child's education will cost and our research shows that over three-quarters of Australian parents fail to save for their child's education," he says.

Education writer Maralyn Parker points out that the hidden costs really add up, with the majority occurring in secondary and tertiary years.

"It's not just pens and pencils and paper any more. It's computer disks and software and access to the Internet and these are things children need [in order] to be 21st century students," she says.

Rachel Kelly's daughter Jazmin is starting Year Five at her public school this year. The school fees are $40 a term and they're voluntary. It doesn't sound like much, but then come the extras such as daily lunches, books and stationery, uniforms and excursions. All up, Rachel estimates it will cost her nearly $2500 this year.

Donna Paul has sent her child Hannah off for a private education. It is going to cost her nearly $5000 in school fees for her six-year-old. Then there

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