Most absurd items on 2025 school stationery lists
South African parents have shared the most absurd items on their children's 2025 school stationery lists.
The new school year is in full swing, and parents are feeling the financial pressure of back-to-school stationery expenses.
'Breakfast with Martin Bester' discussed some of the absurd items spotted on social media that schools have included on these lists.
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Parents expressed frustration not only over the inclusion of these items but also the overall cost of sending a child back to school.
In addition to the usual stationery items, many lists also included an excessive amount of cleaning supplies, tissues, two-ply toilet paper, air freshener, hand wash, and refuse bags.
As one listener pointed out, a lot of schools also asked parents to buy specific brands of these items.
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Listen here:
Online, parents shared examples of back-to-school list items that left them in disbelief.
It’s bad bad 😭 pic.twitter.com/dZmjKtnMoo
— Rain_Queen (@Pula_Rain) January 3, 2025
Looking at the Stationery list
— Lebohang Phokela (@LeboPhokela) January 4, 2025
Which one of the items are you definitely leaving out?
The last item on this list should be taken from the fees #BackToSchool pic.twitter.com/JYvGNw2O06
The requirements for Stationery in Gauteng government schools is unbelievable.
— Thulani Manqele (@ThulaniManqele1) January 7, 2025
A Grade 1 stationery list, among other ludicrous requirements such as 4 tins of Airfreshner must bring 4 Red Pens. What do the Grade 1's use red pens for? Hhay bo!!
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IMAGE: Facebook/ Motso Tlhabane