Public Vs Private Schools In The Philippines: Parents Share Pros, Cons, And What To Focus On

Fact-Checked by Ronna Capili Bonifacio

Once your child is school-aged, the ultimate question is: public or private school?

An anonymous parent brought to Smart Parenting Village and its community of over 95,000 parents this predicament. And as it turns out, Smart Parenting Villagers had this question in mind too. And many parents shared the pros and cons of private or public schooling based on both their experience as students and their experience as parents.

 

Public schools in the Philippines: pros and cons

For parents who chose to send their children to public schools, most agreed that one of its advantages is the expertise of the teachers. The often mentioned disadvantages are the facilities, overpopulation and lesser focus of teachers to each student. 

“I have a four year old son and decided to also send him to public school. Public school din ako nag-aral ng elementary and high school, then state university for college,” Marra Charisma shared. 

She continued, “Maganda naman ang turo, depende rin sa focus ng bata sa studies and guidance ng parents. I came to this decision because instead of paying a lot for private schooling, mas gusto kong ilaan yung resources sa needs niya sa pag-aaral (maayos at complete school supplies, laptop/computer, baon, etc.) and a little out of school experiences din like traveling. Parang mas gusto ko na physically nakikita kong sa anak ko rin talaga napupunta yung pinaghihirapan naming pera. I have nothing against private schools, my siblings are both private school teachers. Personal preference lang talaga.”

Iyaa Alonzo also chose public school despite being a previous private school teacher, “I chose public school, madaming challenges pero tinuruan ko mga bata how to be independent. Mag-aral mag-isa, mag-strive mag-isa and I am very happy kasi hindi lang sila smart kung hindi street smart din.”

'Dinala ko sila sa best na public schools na may magandang reputation. No doubt naman, hindi perfect. Maraming challenges, pero nalalampasan naman namin. Thankful ako sa mga naging guro ng mga anak ko.' -Iyaa Alonzo

She continued, “Don’t get me wrong, dati akong private school teacher, ok naman ang private. But, naisip ko na dalhin sila sa isa sa best na public schools na may maganda talagang reputation. No doubt naman, hindi perfect. Madaming challenges, pero nalalampasan naman namin. At very thankful ako sa mga naging guro ng mga anak ko.” Her daughter is studying at a public school in Las Pinas City. 

Irish Capisino Divino said, “Public basta section 1 lang siya, make sure to prepare your child physically, mentally and emotionally. Magaling teachers sa public. Preschool pa anak ko dito lang kami sa CDC, free lunch and snack pa sa feeding program ng DSWD.” They are located in Davao De Oro. 

In a conversation in the thread, some parents noted that some public schools are crowded, but Merly Lalog-Llanes shared her experience, “Depende din po sa lugar, dito sa Pasig 30-35 pupils per section. Sa anak ko na Grade 3, 30 lang sila sa class room.” The said public school is in Pasig City. 

RELATED: Why Moms Choose Public Schools: 'Bawas Gastos Lalo Na Walang Kasiguraduhan Ang Mga Bagay'

Charis Shiloh Sabellano added, “Live within your means. Kung anong kaya ng budget, dun ka. Mahalaga makapag-aral ang mga bata. Kung kaya to maintain private then go, pero kung magiging burden and struggle ang pagpasok nila dito then go for the public. At the end naman parehas may matutunan.”

Private schools in the Philippines: pros and cons

The number one mentioned disadvantage for private school is its cost. Advantages, as mentioned by parents, are the up-to-date facilities, teachers are more focused on each student, especially in the younger classes. 

Imee Constantino Camaco, a public school teacher chose private schooling for her kids, “I’m a public [school] teacher, anak ko sa private nag-aaral. Need niya kasing matutukan kasi nahihirapan pa siya makisabay sa classmate niya kasi nga madami ang bata sa public. Mahihirapan ang teacher maisa-isa at dapat talaga may guidance ng parents.”

She added that the decision still depends on the child, “If you think kung matalino na anak mo go for public, tutukan mo lang. If busy ka, mag-private ka kasi kakaunti bata sa private. Make sure na kakaunti kasi may private na mas madami pa ang bata kesa sa public. Choose the best school for your child habang bata pa tsaka mo ilipat pag kaya na niya. Iba kasi yung foundations ika nga.”

Many parents agree that the advantage of private schools is the ratio of teacher to students.

Another public school teacher, Ireen Alimento-Jamayo shared why she is a pro-private school. “I'm a public high school teacher. Ang dami po na high school students mahirap mag-basa. Worse, hindi marunong mag-basa. Kulang ang foundation. It would be better sa private school kasi limited ang number of students per classroom so matututukan 'yung bata and the building of foundations is good." She adds, "Pwede po, grade 1 to 3 private then try niyo ilipat sa public in grade 4. I have a four year old and am planning to enroll her in a private school. I'm not generalizing elementary teachers. But this is the reality we are facing sa high school. Very poor foundations especially the 3rs (reading, writing, arithmetic) and basic operations.”

Iana also added, “If you can afford to send your child to a private school, then I would suggest sending her there. I've come to realize that the people your child mingles with every day and their mindset will greatly affect your daughter's character in the long run. Apart from that, yung mga opportunities offered to students in private schools are incomparable to those in public schools. I'm talking about partnerships with other schools like foreign student exchange programs, study abroad programmes, etc.”

Pao Antonio shared the factors they weighed during their decision-making, “My child is upcoming grade 1 SY 23-24, enrolled siya sa private school. Na-experience ko rin ang public school at alam ko gaano kahirap sa public school. Before I enrolled, ito ang mga considerations ko: location, tuition fee, cost of books, uniform, environment (since uso ang dengue sa atin), security (hindi pinalalabas ng school kung walang sundo ng registered guardian na nakalista sa school).” Parents may also need to consider miscellaneous expenses such as school events, field trips and others. 

RELATED: More Kids Enrolled In Public Schools This Year (Only 16% In Private Schools)

In a separate thread discussing whether it is ‘sulit’ to send kids to private schools, Lovejoy Godines-Dizon shared, “Depende sa school po. Please bear in mind na napakahalaga ng early stages ng education ng bata dahil dun nafo-form ang learning habits niya, yung interests niya, and yung perception niya to learning. Wag pumili ng school dahil mura or dahil 'bata pa naman yan” kaya sa mura muna.'

She goes on to quote a famous American author: “Sabi nga ni Robert Fulghum, literally and figuratively eh 'Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten'”. 

She further added, “And according to Dr. Charled Duncan Mclver, “If education is expensive, try ignorance”.

Mix of public and private school 

Clariss Marangga shared their educational plan for their kids, and it’s a mix of both public and private school. “Here's my plan for both my kids, pre-school to elementary, private; high school, public; college, state universities.”

'Naniniwala ako na ang success ng bata wala sa school. Right character ang magdadala sa bata kung gusto niya mag-succeed or not.' -May McCann

Erwin-Margarita Mercado said, “Product ako ng public school, survival of the fittest talaga. Swerte lang 'pag kasama ka sa star section. Magagaling naman talaga ang teachers sa public school pero mas tutok kasi ang teachers ng private schools sa mga maliliit na bata. Importante na matuto, if not master, ang mga bata ng foundations of academic learning (reading, writing, and numeracy) bago sila maging independent learners. Ang gusto ko naman sa anak ko na matutuhan niya sa public school ay yung grit, diskarte sa buhay, empathy, at makisama sa ibang tao from all walks of life. Lalo na survival skills para maging flexible and adaptive sa challenges sa buhay.”

Not a decision between public or private school

The discussion gathered real experiences from parents and parents who are also teachers, and some voiced out that it is not really a decision between public or private school. 

Che Lorico shared, “Private or public schools, both naman may pros and cons. There are a lot of factors to consider. If you go for private school, make sure na kayang i-sustain ang budget for tuition. Okay ang private kasi matutukan ang mga bagets dahil konti lang sila per class and the facilities are better. If you go for a public school, find a school that you think is better compared to other schools kung may other option.”

May McCann added, “I studied both public and private. Hindi lahat ng public pangit, kaya nga may mga pilot school or science high school or central school. Agree ako sa magaling ang teachers ng public, wala akong masasabi dun. May private din na hindi maganda or maayos. Either of the two, kung saan kayo mas magiging comfortable within your budget may makukuha pa din kayong maayos na school. Pagtibayin lang ang pundasyon sa bata in terms of values.”

She added, “Naniniwala ako na ang success ng bata wala sa school. Ang learning ng bata wala rin sa school. Right character ang magdadala sa bata kung gusto niya mag-succeed or not. Hindi naman pwede sabihin na lahat ng mahirap hindi nag-succeed. Mas marami pa nga akong kilalang laki sa hirap, laki sa public na mas successful ngayon dahil yung character, personality and experience nila ang nagdadala para mag work hard.”

Read this story for the ultimate guide to choosing your child's school.