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'What a joke': Mum's shock at being made to spend $578 on back to school basics goes viral.

A Queensland mum-of-three has shared her outrage and disbelief at spending $578 on school supplies for her three children while following the schools’ suggested supplies guides.

In a Facebook post that takes aim at the Federal Government for scrapping the Schoolkids Bonus, Cindy Bogan shared her frustration, striking a chord with parents.

Ms Bogan was shocked to learn the cost of sending her three children into Years 10, 8 and prep this year was so much, especially because the receipt did not include backpacks, shoes or uniforms, but did include $88 for whiteboard markers.

“$88 for six packs of four Whiteboard Markers for the Prep students TEACHER,” she wrote.

Doing the math, the Thermomix consultant realised a class of 24 students each buying the teacher the markers would mean they ended up with 480.

“Are you serious!? I understand teachers are in no way on a flamboyant wage but this is something the GOVERNMENT should be coughing up in order for our children to receive the education they are entitled to!” she wrote.

Ms Bogan said she was frustrated that in addition to her children’s other costs, which totalled about $600, she was forced to fork out what she thought might be some people’s weekly wage for basic suuplies.

Cindy Bogan and her whopping receipt. (Image via Facebook.)

The Cooloola Cove resident said this was why the recently discontinued Schoolkids Bonus had been so important.

"So many families relied on the School Bonus to do exactly what I did today - prepare their children for the coming school year," she wrote.

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The final Schoolkids Bonus payments of $430 for primary school students and $856 for secondary students were paid to eligible parents last year.

Hundreds of parents shared her frustration, with the post receiving more than 1700 comments, 4000 reactions and 2000 shares since it was posted last Friday.

The Parent Code, with Bec Sparrow and Jo Abi, talk about the politics of school volunteering. Post continues after audio.

One mum said she couldn't afford her children's school supplies as she had lost her job and now worked casually and her ex-husband's income had been reduced.

"Losing the school kids bonus has hit us hugely," she wrote.

"Education is a benefit to the country, it is an asset and a necessity. The school kids bonus was given to counter the costs of school and allow a more even playing field for poorer kids to start school with similar advantages. Losing it has hurt a lot of kids," another commented.

Other Facebook users were not so sympathetic, pointing out that she chose to have children, or taking issue with her reference to the Federal Government's immigration policies.

"I never received the school kids bonus. I chose to have children, why should the government pay for them? We struggle, skimp and save but they are our kids and we make do," one user wrote.