“Back to school is the reign of the resourceful. Parents, mainly the mothers, try the second hand, run in stores and some, who live near the border, will see in France if it is not available less. Parents spend a time and crazy energy near the start of the school year”notes Merlin Gevers, in charge of studies and political action at the League of Families.
The second hand for school notebooks is almost nonexistent
But the used book market is very poor in terms of education. Especially since very often, textbooks invite the student to carry out an exercise or detach the page, making the transmission almost impossible.
“This varies in the level of teaching. There are many more bookbooks in primary and lower secondary when in 4-5 and 6th seconds where we use more manuals”explains Léonard Daniëls, editorial manager at Plantyn editions. “”We follow the teachers’ wish. The recent large investigation carried out on the French-speaking side shows that the notebooks are acclaimed by primary and lower degree because they are very easy to use, put the student in action and encourage the autonomy of the student. “
Unlike the exercise notebook, book books is a kind of all in one that includes theory and a implementation. “”It is a global learning solution. The paper version is only a very small part. There is all the digital component which makes it possible to make more differentiations following the pact of excellence “underlines Léonard Daniëls. “”The teacher is the conductor, some do not use this digital part at all. “
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As for the evolution of prices, Plantyn speaks of an increase of 2 to 3 % on average because the publisher follows inflation while taking care to offer the most reasonable price possible. The Family League defends a model where schools, properly funded, manage the acquisition of all that is necessary for learning. “”This would allow a scale economy and guarantee a quality of education identical to everyone. “
“Taxes should cover the student’s education”
According to the league barometer published in April 2024, two out of three families experienced financial difficulties due to school fees. There is a public fund, the Manolo subsidy, which provides financial assistance to schools in the purchase of school books in particular. “”However, every year, it is not used at 100 % and at the same time, we ask parents to equip their children “Pointe Merlin Gevers. “”Taxes should cover the student’s education. It is not normal to have to pay a second time. “
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The rules of gratuitousness are not yet well known or respected everywhere. The latest checks that have been suspended since last year, have shown substantive breaches. However, if the school wants to use a school manual or exercise notebook as a support for a course, it cannot force the purchase and must make it available to the student (in the event of parents’ refusal).
