Modern schoolbags worth $2,00,000 are not without laptop, iPod and phone

Once upon a time, school bags were used to carry a few books, pencils and a lunchbox, but today’s school bags are not without a laptop, an iPod and a few other cool gadgets.

"Kids won't leave the home without their laptop now. And a mobile phone, iPod and some kind of portable game gadget," the Daily Telegraph quoted NSW Secondary Principals Council president Christine Cawsey, as saying.

"Things have changed a lot since I went to school with my HB pencil and lunch."

Thirty years ago schoolbags cost about $20 and contained about $5 worth of necessities: two pencils, a ballpoint pen, an eraser, an exercise book, a ruler and a lunch box.

Now, however, parents of high school students have to shell out $597 on stationery, text books, art and craft materials and sport and music equipment, reveal data from the Australian Scholarships Group.

They may also need to pay an additional $1,600 to buy or rent a computer and pay for internet connection at home or school.

"Once kids get to high school they start wanting the most expensive branded bag or the branded sports gear," said Sharryn Brownlee, spokeswoman for the Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW.