Nayrouz News Agency : Demand for stationery and school uniforms is "very weak” this year, with fears from the rise in local COVID-19 infections and the possible return to distance learning, according to sector representatives.

Regarding stationery, demand is "very weak at 20 per cent at most", President of the Stationery and Library and Office Equipment Traders and Manufacturers Association Ashraf Kawar told The Jordan Times on Sunday over the phone.

"This season is much weaker than last year's season, which was also very weak, and people are not buying although items are available at very affordable and cheaper prices," Kawar said.

"Even though the Education Ministry announced that in-school attendance will start on time on September 1, families are still afraid of the rise in the number of local cases over the past week," he said.

He also noted that enrolment in private schools is very low as well, and some good news is necessary to encourage people to buy their needs and send their children to school.

In normal seasons, the needs of around 2.5 million students, each of whom spends around JD20 to JD25, amount to a total trade of around JD80 million to JD120 million, Kawar said.

He added that although merchants were prepared all their wares, "the lack of demand is causing them to complain about the situation they are facing".

Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate President Muneer Deyeh told The Jordan Times over the phone that the demand at the beginning of August was 10 to 15 per cent, dropping around 85 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Deyeh noted that the "demand dropped completely” as many infections were recorded over the last weekend.

"The rise in the coronavirus cases made people to believe that learning could return to being done remotely, like in the past semester, which is the main cause for the drop in demand for uniforms, backpacks and other school necessities," he said.

During usual seasons, the sector earnings from the school season amount to around JD55 million for uniforms and necessities for both public and private schools, Deyeh said.

He concluded that if the situation does not change this year, "merchants would face grave losses, factories that import uniforms and local factories that sew them will all be unable to pay their financial dues, losing eight months of preparation for the season".