Spending more than half a million dollars to send your child through school is the reality many parents are facing in 2014.
For the Greek Australian community, many parents are forgoing the public school option and seeking denominational or private schooling to offer their children, as they say, more opportunities.
For mother of two Anna Pirdas-Zivcic, she says her decision to send her daughters through private school was based on making sure they received an education tailored to their needs.
Her daughter Natalia, now entering university, started at The Knox School in Wantirna South in pre-prep after Mrs Pirdas-Zivcic scoured Melbourne to find a school that would nurture her daughter’s gifted mind.
“When she started and because she was a kid that did not fit the normal square, they kept nurturing that imagination, she was an avid reader from an early age and Knox kept encouraging her,” Mrs Pirdas-Zivcic tells Neos Kosmos.
But, that choice ended up costing the family close to $250,000, an investment that not many parents can afford.
Her youngest daughter Alessia is in year nine at the same school, and despite most schools offering a discounted rate for siblings, Mrs Pirdas-Zivcic is still paying close to $20,000 a year.
Regardless of the money, the family believes had they not invested in their children, their daughters wouldn’t have had the same opportunities to thrive and develop their interests.
“In all honesty, had I put her [Natalia] in a public system, knowing the numbers that go through per grade, I think she would have been lost in the system and I don’t think she would have flourished as much as she has,” she says.
A study conducted by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) has seen a 1.4 rise in the cost of sending a child through school.
The survey revealed that for a child born in 2014 the forecast cost of a private education in Sydney is $543,334.
Melbourne parents considering a private education for their children are estimated to pay more than half a million dollars ($504,742) per child-$45,747 above the national metro average, followed by Canberra ($422,635), Hobart ($383,320), Darwin ($373,421), Perth ($369,492) and Brisbane ($361,911) for pre-school through to Year 12. Adelaide is the most cost effective city for a private school education at $339,954.
The cost also takes into account school fees, uniforms, computers, excursions and transport.
Year 12 is also the most expensive year for a child in school, with many parents spending upwards of $60,000 to see their child finish their High School certificate.
CEO of the ASG, John Velegrinis says the survey demonstrates planning for an education can be a 20 year journey.
He’s not surprised that many families are debating if they can afford to send their children to the school they want. Making a conscientious decision early will be a big help to parents Mr Velegrinis says.
“By planning early, families will have greater peace-of-mind and flexibility when it comes to making important choices about their son or daughter’s education,” he says.
For Greek Australian families hoping to send their children to our community’s schools are also looking at a big investment.
In 2014 Alphington Grammar will charge an estimated cost of $158,303 in school fees for parents to enroll their child from prep to year 12 compared to Oakleigh Grammar at approximately $94,730, while St Johns Orthodox College is posting fees of $77,700 for similar enrollments.
The quoted costs are not inclusive of sibling multiple enrollment or other possible discounts offered by our community’s education institutions.