Education costs soar

Marie Craig and Matthew Wilson with their first child Patrick.

A STAGGERING $300,000 plus is the cost south-west parents face to put a child born this year through private schooling over the next two decades.

Figures from the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) show the total bill for educating a Queensland baby born in 2012 from prep to Year 12 could be $330,294.

The cost of educating a child through the public system is estimated to be $60,657 and $214,347 at a Catholic school.

These estimates included education-related expenses such as school fees, extra-curricular activities, travel, clothing, necessities and computers.

Forest Lake mother, Marie Craig, said $300,000 was a daunting amount.

The 29-year-old, who gave birth to her first child Patrick on January 13 and plans to have another child in two years, said she would prefer to send her children to a private school but felt finances were an issue.

"We will probably put our children through public schooling until they reach high school. Then they'll go to a private school," she said.

"That way we can save some costs."

Joanna Gordan of Gails, who is due to give birth to twins next month, said she would have no choice but to send her children to a government school.

"I want the very best for my children but I'm having twins which means double the expenses," she said.

Using current tuition fees, it would cost about $188, 790 to educate a child from prep to Year 12 at one of south-west Brisbane's top private schools St Aidan's Anglican Girls School at Corinda.

Although more costly than the public system, the school for girls boasts learning in a smaller, more nurturing environment.

ASG's general manager of development Frida Kordovoulos said the rising costs of education would have a significant impact on family budgets regardless of which schooling system parents choose for their child.

"Whether parents are planning to send their child to a government or private school, the increasing costs of education over the next five years are expected to have a significant impact on household finances, particularly those not prepared for the hidden education-related expenses associated with educating a child," she said.

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