Back to School

3 Jan 2011 - It is not totally clear to me why school holidays in Malaysia are held in November and December (the cooler weather seem perfect to study?), but the holidays are over and today and tomorrow children return to school. The back-to-school shopping frenzy is evident in many of the leading stores and shopping malls. Parents, with their children in tow, pick out school uniforms and shoes in the right sizes and colors. "Whenever the school term starts, the one thing most parents worry about is having to spend a significant amount to buy school uniforms, books, shoes and stationary. These days children ask for what they want and they insist that we buy their favorite things," said mother of six, Ajurun Begum Ahmad. Ajurun recommends not to wait last minute with the purchases, as it pays off to shop around, and they could benefit from the year-end sale. Another mother takes a different approach: "Although we have to get everything new for the little one, that still does not mean that we will give in to all his demands."