“Every year, it feels like the expenses just keep growing,” says Salim Mahrouqi, a father of three from Muscat. Apart from school fees, he lists uniforms, school supplies, transport, tech devices, and extracurricular activities as additional burdens. He estimates back-to-school expenses, excluding school fees, could range from RO 50 to RO 100 per child at the start of each academic year.

According to Sneha Fernandes, mother of a kindergartener, these costs vary depending on a school’s requirements and planned activities for the year. “The most significant expenses are school fees and technology requirements,” she adds.

With most private schools charging anywhere between RO 1,000 to RO 8,000 annually – contingent on a range of factors – annual school fee is typically the big crunch while budgeting. 

Commenting on the same, Molly Richard, a mother of two children attending an international school in Muscat, pointed out that school fees are on the top of most household budgets. “It is common to see a percentage of hike in school fees each year as children move to higher grades. While this can be absorbed into the budget, what’s harder to manage are the unexpected costs that pop up during the course of the academic year,” she explains.

For households relying on mid- to low-range salaries, budgeting for schooling can be particularly challenging — especially as digital tools have become essential in many curricula.

Uniforms and the ‘New Essentials’

For most parents, uniforms remain one of the major purchases, as many private schools require students to own separate sets for everyday wear, sports kits and special activities. While reusing uniforms or shoes from previous years is common, children often outgrow them — prompting new purchases of bags, lunch boxes, and water bottles as well.

Another major concern for parents is the standardisation of digital tools and devices, which have become an intrinsic part of the school budget. Tablets, laptops and educational apps are no longer optional in many schools.  

“Tech devices now form part of the basic school toolkit,” notes Molley, adding that devices can significantly impact the annual school budget, especially in international schools.

Pointing out that tablets, laptops, and apps have now joined pencils and notebooks on shopping lists, Salim states: “Gone are the days when you could pass school accessories down among siblings.”  

While Sneha hasn’t yet faced tech-related expenses for her kindergarten-aged child, she acknowledges that it’s only a matter of time. “I anticipate these will become a bigger part of our budget as my child progresses through school years.”

Conscious Spending

Interestingly, with sustainability gaining traction in recent years, many a trend – like the one Salim laments – are slowly returning back, particularly when it comes to reusing of clothes and other school supplies.

The issue, as Molley maintains, is not about how much money one can set aside for the year; it is about making a conscious decision to ensure zero waste. Likewise, Sneha confirms that she tends to reuse clothing and other school essentials to help manage costs where possible.

Hidden Costs and Budgeting Tips

Apart from basics, most parents also have to contend with ‘hidden’ or unexpected costs each academic year. While Salim notes that this could range from school trips and costumes for competitions to projects and additional study materials, Sneha lists extracurricular activities such as after-school classes, themed dress-up days, external competitions, and quizzes.

The only way to get set for back-to-school expenses and the year-round costs like transportation, tuitions and tech tools, is to chart the budget for the year before the start of term, maintains Molly. 

Reiterating similar sentiments, Sneha states: “Plan well in advance and take advantage of seasonal sales and promotions. Recycling and upcycling items where possible can also help reduce costs. Avoid last-minute shopping, as this often leads to higher spending.”

What Drives School Costs?

While it is a given that school fees vary significantly based on multiple aspects, some key factors are location – schools in major cities or prime urban areas often have higher fees; facilities and infrastructure offered by the school – ranging from modern amenities and digital classrooms to sports activities and playgrounds; curriculum and affiliations of schools – especially international ones and those affiliated with IB or Cambridge; faculty and staff; extracurricular and special programmes – including specialised coaching sessions; as well as reputation and brand value of the school.

Although back-to-school shopping lasts a few weeks, for most families, school expenses stretch across the year. With rising costs and growing expectations, it’s no longer just about buying notebooks and pencils – it’s about smart planning, budgeting, and making conscious choices to ensure a smooth academic year for both parents and students.