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School uniforms cheaper this year
02/01/2001 22:57 - (SA)
Barbara Harrison, Beeld
Johannesburg - Parents of school-going children will not have to dig that deep in their pockets to buy school uniformsfor their little ones for the new school year.
Chain stores and other suppliers of school uniforms had to make a huge effort on Monday to help hundreds of parents in search of uniforms. It appears, however, that the stiff competition between stores will ensure that prices don't go through the roof.
"Our stock is being snapped up at an unbelievable rate. Up until now, however, there have been no complaints about the prices," says Gavin Murray, the store manager of Ackermans in Randburg.
Ackermans supplies a variety of standard uniforms. Parents can expect to pay about R250 for a boy's uniform and about R239 for a girl's uniform.
Boys uniforms include a short-sleeved shirt (R22.95), a pair of short pants (R24.95), shoes (R89.95), two pairs of white school socks (R25.90), and a pair of long pants (R59.00). The girls uniform includes a shirt, (R22.95), black tunic (R59.95), skirt (R39.95), two pairs of white socks (R25.90), and school shoes (R89.95).
Uniforms are suitable for children up to the age of 15 and prices are the same, no matter what the size is. The prices of school shoes, however, differ depending on the size.
Blazers and uniforms for specific schools, cannot, however, be bought at Ackermans and other similar chain stores.
According to Hans Kruger, the owner of the Totius Dal Trading House in Pretoria, his shop is attempting to keep the prices of the various school uniforms as close to each other as possible.
Extras, such as school badges and pleats in skirts could influence the price of a school uniform. Totius Dal Trading House supplies uniforms for nine high schools, 19 primary schools and a variety of private schools in the Pretoria Moot area.
"We acquired uniforms early, so that we could pay last year's prices. We ordered some of the uniforms nine months ago," he said.
He says that many other shops did the same. At the Totius Dal Trading House, parents with children who are going to school for the first time, can expect to pay approximately R350 for a girl's uniform and R312 for a boy's uniform.
These prices do not include school shoes. The cost of a dry mac, R132, which is worn by most schools instead of blazers, is included.
Dry macs for high school pupils costs about R164. The price for a blazer is between R228 and R272, depending on the size. Prices for other items compare well with primary school uniforms.
- Beeld
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