Half of parents feel pressure from school to buy laptop or tablet.

Half of parents feel pressure from school to buy laptop or tablet.

Many parents with a child in secondary education have trouble buying digital learning tools for their child or cannot pay for them at all. More than half of the parents also feel pressured by the school to buy a laptop or tablet. This comes from research among 1211 parents in the Landelijk Ouderpanel of Ouders & Onderwijs.

Trouble paying for digital learning tools 

Parents often cannot or have difficulty paying for digital learning tools like a laptop or tablet. Especially in secondary education, where laptops and tablets are needed more often, the costs increase. More than 40% of parents say they can pay but have to give up other things. It is not surprising that 69% of parents find the costs too high. 

High pressure in secondary education 

Especially in secondary education, the pressure from school to buy digital learning tools is high. A laptop or tablet is often needed for a child to follow lessons at school or at home. More than half of the parents in secondary education feel pressured by the school to buy a laptop or tablet despite the high costs. 

School must provide digital learning tools according to parents

Almost seven out of ten parents think the school must provide digital learning tools if they are needed to follow education. In secondary education, 64% of children actually need a laptop or tablet to participate at school and at home. Only 7% get one from the school. The school often does not pay the costs, so parents have to do this themselves. More than two out of five parents pay for two children. 

Graphing calculator also expensive

Besides the costs for a laptop or tablet, parents with a child in secondary education often have to buy a graphing calculator. This costs at least 80 euros. A large part, 71%, of the parents interviewed find the costs for a graphing calculator too high, and 53% think the school should pay for it. 

Other studies

That school costs in secondary education can rise sharply also shows in the results in the school cost monitor for 2022-2023. It states that parents pay more than 800 euros per school year for school costs, with laptops and tablets being one of the highest costs. Forty percent of the parents surveyed find these costs too high. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science says that costs for digital learning tools are never mandatory. Unfortunately, many parents do not know this and still end up paying the costs. 

About the study    

The study included 1,211 parents with a child in primary education or secondary education. The results of the study are representative by gender, education level, and cultural background, with a spread in the age of the child. Do you want to join the conversation about important school topics? Then sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel.  

Questions and contact  

Do you have questions about school costs or digital learning tools? Or do you have other questions about your child’s education? Then contact our advice point via WhatsApp, email, or phone.