For most people school is the first place where the disparities of life are encountered. While some students carry along huge sums of expendable cash allowances (commonly referred to as ‘pocket money’) in addition to snacks, others are forced to survive on paltry resources for the duration of their school life. 

Observers in the schoolyard will naturally assume that the former come from well to do backgrounds, the latter from impoverished ones. While this may be true in some cases, in others it might simply indicate the confusion of parents where the question of pocket money for their school going children is concerned.

For, whereas most will agree that school children should be given some spare cash for expenses at school, there is no consensus on just how much is enough.

Why give pocket money?

Parents often give their children that extra cash even after providing all the necessities for school like toothpaste, shoe polish and so on to cater for any emergency expenditures that may arise, for instance when the supplies run out, get lost or stolen.

However, educators say the practice may be used to teach children valuable life skills.

For instance, Ronald Wandira, a history teacher at Riviera High School advises parents to use pocket money as a tool of teaching students how to budget wisely and live within their means.

"Parents should help their children identify their priorities at school and budget around those, and should they later complain when they run out, they should be made to understand that such situations could be avoided with better budgeting,” he says, adding that this way they can be taught to spend within their means.

However, Solomon Mukama Apuuli, a teacher at Kigali Christian School, cautions parents to be flexible especially when their children present genuine reasons for altering their budgets.

"Sometimes being stingy does not help. The student may find himself in need of something that was not earlier included in the budget, and at that point it is essential that parents adjust accordingly,” says Mukama.

For his part, Marie Vianney Dunia, a teacher at ES Kianza in Rulindo suggests that children can be taught the value of money by being made to earn their pocket money.

"In holidays, they should be given small jobs like farming, and extra pocket money could be used as a reward. Those who work hard should be given more money than the rest,” says Dunia.

How much is too much?

The next dilemma for parents is figuring out how much pocket money to give their children.

Too little, and you could make your child’s life unbearable or even worse drive them into petty crime.

Theoneste Ngiruwonsanga a teacher at College APPEC Rukoma discourages sending students to school without pocket money because it promotes theft.

"After the student compares himself to others, he may be tempted to find other means of getting money in order to fit their lifestyle,” says Ngiruwonsanga.

On the other hand, too much money may also prove detrimental to the child’s education.

"When children ask for money, they normally have their own plans,” says former Kikukiro District Education Officer and now head teacher at HS Masaka, Jean Pierre Habimana, "therefore if you give them huge sums of cash, they are likely to spend on unnecessary utilities.”

Elaborating on the same danger, Geoffrey Ishimwe, a teacher at GS Rugando insists that students in senior six and senior five need to be controlled when it comes to pocket money because they have immense desires.

"At this stage, students are only looking at things like mobile phones. Make a mistake and adjust according to their demands, you risk promoting gadgets instead of learning,” he warns.

Guiding tips

To help parents resolve this dilemma, educators list three major considerations to be kept in mind when determining how much to give: the actual needs of a school going child (as opposed to what the child tells you), your own financial situation as a family, and the level of your child’s education.

First, Habimana, advises that it is important for parents to realize that almost all necessities for students are provided by the schools.

"Students can no longer even claim to be buying snacks because most schools now no longer sell them,” cautions Habimana.

Wandira also agrees, and goes so far as to argue that pocket money is not obligatory and students can survive without this facilitation.

"There are utilities in place at school, so I see no reason why parents should be stressed over not providing pocket money to their children,” he argues.

Secondly, Habimana explains that parents should consider their household income and financial capability as a family.

"Some students come from wealthy families and you don’t want to compete with that. The money you give out is just a matter of letting children know how far you can stretch in terms of financial resources,” says Habimana.

However Sylvia Uhirwa, the Partnerships & Government Relations Coordinator at Kepler, advises that the amount of money allocated should correspond to the recipient’s level of education.

Her explanation is that university students need more money to meet additional expenses while on campus.

"At the university, I feel a range of Rwf 50,000 to 70,000 should be enough to cater for phone calls, snacks, research work and transport. Students in secondary can make do with about Rwf 25, 000,” explains Uhirwa.

Need for supervision

Moreover, teachers advise adult supervision of pocket money in special circumstances, say if it is for younger students, or for large sums because they face a threat of theft from fellow students unless schools have mechanisms to stop this.

At APPEC Rukoma, students who with pocket money in excess of Rwf 10,000 have to keep it with the matron and can only access it in bits.

"At the end of the day, it is their money and they can access it any time after seeking permission to go buy whatever they want as long as it makes sense,” says Ngiruwonsanga.

Augustine Gatera the director of language and Humanities at Rwanda Education Board suggests that large sums be left within the hands of school authorities.

"Any amount is fine as long as it can be controlled by an elder person. Students should only be allowed money after making necessary demands. This money can be kept by the dormitory wardens,” he explains.

The smart option

Today, parents have the option to use ICT tools to help them give their children pocket money whenever they need it. It is also possible to monitor their purchases as well.

Maurice Toroitich, the Managing Director of KCB bank points out that in this digital era, there is no need for students to move around with cash. Instead they can utilize smart cards to meet their cash requirements.

"Those who have bank accounts can use prepaid cards. Students only have to call their parents whenever they need money and have it deposited onto the card,” he explains, adding that such cards also help parents monitor what the money is spent on.

"When buys anything using the card, I immediately receive this information and can track down all that they have bought,” he adds.

Several studies have pointed out that there numerous issues around pocket money but parents who get time to discuss with their children about how much is sufficient experience fewer challenges.

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How much pocket money should be given to students?

Alloys Rurantije, a parent from Nyarutarama

I prefer giving children money to go shopping during holidays. It is a way of letting them chose out what they want most and to limit expenditure to those requirements provided on the list. When reporting to school I only give them Rwf 3,000 because they already have everything.

Samuel Kisakye, a teacher

The amount should depend on the type of school whether day or boarding school. Boarding students need extra money to cater for shopping and the balance to sustain them throughout the whole term. Day scholars commute from home and any amount can do.

Emily Uwimana, a parent from Kimironko

Girls should be given more money than boys to avoid temptations that come with financial deficiency. Secondly girls need sanitary materials and may run out of pads in the middle of the term. Boys don’t have such needs and can survive with minimal cash at school.

Loice Ineza, S6 student at GS, A.D.B Nyarutarama

My parents do all the shopping for the entire term. I only receive small cash for buying snacks. There many hardships at school and it would be better if parents provide enough pocket money. Sometimes you get stranded in the middle of the term and none of your schoolmates wants to share anything.

Chrispin Manzi, a parent from Kicukiro

It all depends on one’s financial status. You have to give what you can afford. Even those who have a lot need to watch out because students who receive carry huge sums of pocket money to school derail from the right path. In fact this also affects the concentration of other colleagues.

Compiled By Lydia Atieno.