New school year’s expenses overburden citizens of Latakia
Latakia – North-Press Agency
Alisa Ahmad
On the verge of Fall, in late August and with the beginning of September of each year, burdens of families are increased, in terms of preparing for the new school year, as well as preparing for winter pantry with the early signs of the fall.
Families do their best to provide the necessary house supplies for winter and to provide school supplies for their children, in addition to the coincidence of Eid al-Adha and its necessities this year, which caused an additional burden during the holiday. What put salt on wound was the early distribution of diesel, which forced the families to submit to those expenses.
Foundation of “Citizen”
The Syrian Trade Establishment of “Citizen”, functions as saving the citizen from every dilemma in which his limited salary cannot afford for, as traders who snipe every increase in salary to build their wealth at the expense of citizens’ sufferings.
With the Foundation’s opening of meat section, some days ago, which has witnessed a popular turnout, an exhibition of school supplies was also opened on the occasion of the start of school year, and in order to ensure a facilitated return to schools.
The exhibition of stationery and school supplies opened in all the halls of the Foundation which lasted for a month, where the rate of lower prices was about 30% less than the markets.
According to the people of the region, the exhibition did not address the crisis of the high costs as a school copybook cost between SYP 60–450, and the school suit costs about SYP 1.500, which is produced by the same foundation.
Moreover, the price of the school uniform is about SYP 4,000 as same as the price of the shoes and bags, but these prices remain unmatched with the salary of the citizens.
Loan without sponsor
The installment option without a guarantor for employees which is worth of 50 thousand Syrian pound, divided over ten months payments, was an attractive offer for people with low income and salaries calculated in pennies.
Despite the simplicity of the amount provided by the exhibition, it was satisfying for the citizens, as it helped absorb the burden of the citizens, and their concerns in securing the requirements of their children’s studies at prices equivalent to a full month’s salary.
Futhermore, the Foundation also aspires to increase assistance that reduces the burden of living conditions of the citizens, such as increasing the installment period and reducing the amount of payments for purchasing the necessary electrical equipment, which in turn contribute to encouraging young people to get married.
The option of installments and loans is a must, yet, it’s not favored by people on the principle that living in prosperity is the right of every citizen, and must have an income that allows them to enjoy a decent life without being burdened by expenses of life.
“You need a loan to buy food, a loan to cover your children, and even to buy a mobile phone, when can we buy what we need without being anguished?” Said Lamia Hassan, a government sector employee, told North-Press.
Supplies on the expense of pantry
Ali Salama, who works in the construction profession, asserts that this month is a disaster for him, because of the expenses. As he is unable to secure pantry, where he decided to remove some of them, while he considered that the exhibitions of the Foundation have rescued him regarding the problem of school equipment.
Abeer al-Hajja, a housewife and mother of three, expressed her suffering which lies in two basic things, the pantry and school supplies, where she preferred to equip her children than making winter supplies because her family lives on a single and limited salary.
While Raif al-Sheikh, who works for a private company, finds that the problem is embodied in the low income and exploitation process by traders, “The problem of buying deficits by citizens cannot be solved by exhibitions and installments, rather, there must be measures to combat exploitation and improve the income levels”.
Raif was only satisfied with the school dress which he had bought for his son about two years ago, because he could not renew it, pointing out that he has noticed large differences in the prices of copybooks between the exhibitions of the Syrian Foundation and the markets.
Limited income is an issue that has negative impact on citizen, and continues to haunt the Syrian citizens while embarrass the government, putting it in blame amid citizens’ questions regarding the possibility of raising the income like other countries, and providing a life away from the domination of traders and monopolists.