School fair brings joy to children and causes bitterness among parents

Notebooks, schoolbags, pens, pencils and uniforms for all the tastes have been exhibited at the traditional school fair in the Cathedral's Park in central Chisinau. Though the parents complain that the prices are rather high, almost nobody goes away without purchases. The parents spend between several hundred lei and several thousand lei for the school supplies and uniform, Info-Prim Neo reports. Seller Natalia said the prices increased slightly from last year, but are lower than in shops and at the market. There are not many buyers at the fair that was opened on August 9. Many of the booths have not been yet opened. Only the clothing costs about 1,500 lei, said another vendor Svetlana. A jacket and a skirt or a pair of trousers are sold for approximately 1,000 lei, while a shirt or a blouse - for 300 lei. The prices of footwear vary between 200 and 400 lei. The sports clothing and sneakers can be bought for 400-450 lei. Most of the schoolbags cost between 100 and 200 lei, while the school supplies – about 300 lei. “We will not be able to buy a uniform for 1,000 lei and school supplies with our salary,” the mother of a ten-year-old girl said regretfully. Another parent said that though they have to spend a lot of money they do not regret it as September 1 must be a special day. Stela Panga, a representative of the Chisinau Division for Trade, Food and Service Provision, told Info-Prim Neo that 250 companies displayed their products at the fair, while the number of sellers is by 60 lower than last year. All the products sold at the fair were made in Moldova. The prices were set by the producing companies. The school fair will be open by September 5, from 10am until evening, depending on the sales and demand.