Back-to-School Rush Quieter Than Usual in Victoria as Parents Wait Until Final Week
VICTORIA, Seychelles — With the new school year set to begin on 20 January, the streets of Victoria have been noticeably quieter than usual during the annual back-to-school rush, with parents and students choosing to wait until the final days before making their purchases.
At The Cosmic Book stationery shop, sales assistant Tiana Haingo said there had not been a lot of shoppers since the beginning of January, though the shop expects a rush two to three days before schools reopen. For now, the main buyers have been parents of crèche students, who are stocking up on coloured crayons, markers and pencils. Prices, she added, are reasonable and have not increased since last year.
A busier scene was observed at Sa’s tailoring shop at Deeva’s Arcade, where long queues of parents waited patiently to buy ready-made school uniforms or to place orders. Owner Stella Afif said the shop has been very busy since the beginning of January, with demand for primary and secondary uniforms particularly high. “We always try to sew extra uniforms every year but demands are always high and what we have are never enough,” she said.
Out of town, Bella’s Boutique at Plaisance has also seen increased footfall. “Once people started getting paid, sale of uniforms has increased,” owner Bella Francourt said. The National Information Services Agency (Nisa) has set up a stand on Market Street selling locally-made exercise books, with the products also available at the company’s office on Grandcourt Road.
