Cost Of Private Schools In The Philippines

Cost Of Private Schools In The Philippines

Education is one of the most powerful tools in the world and children who are granted the best education that they can get often go on to make the world better, for themselves and for others.

If you are a parent, a would-be parent, or intending to be a parent, you know the specific duties that come with that role. And in the Philippines, many parents rise up to the challenge by enrolling their children in private schools.

According to data released by the Department of Education (DepEd) for the previous school year, students enrolled in private educational institutions in the Philippines increased from about 4 million to 4.1 million in 2018.

Why choose private schools?

There are several options for parents to choose from when considering private schooling for their child. While public education isn’t necessarily less competitive, private education will provide students more personal learning experience.

Compared to public schools, teacher to student ratio in a private school is only 1 is to 40 students at most. While for public schools, teachers handle more student in a single class.  Students will also be given better supervision by educators in a private school, making it more conducive especially for children who have special needs and/or those who could study better with better guidance by their educators. Lastly, private schools usually have better and complete learning facilities than public schools in the country.

According to data released by the Department of Education (DepEd), 27.7  million students are enrolled for the school year 2019 to 2019. To narrow it down, there are about 23.5 million enrolled students in public schools and 4.1 million in private schools. These figures are slightly higher than the figures in the last school year. 

There are many reasons for this increase in enrolment in private schools but for the most part, private school education is generally considered to be of higher quality than public schooling.

Private institutions enjoy the benefit of using independent resources to provide an effective, engaging, and quality learning environment to their students – which is something that most public schools cannot do, without needing to involve the government.

In addition, the teacher-class ratio is lower compared to that in public schools, and the curriculum encompasses varied specializations and even customizations to accommodate the educational and extracurricular interests of the student population.

If you are considering private school education for your children, you already know why the cost will be worth it. But to better prepare you, here is a general rundown of those costs.

Annual tuition

Annual tuition varies from school to school and even region to region. For example, private schools in Metro Manila may be more expensive than private schools in Davao City.

Similarly, the size and reputation of a school can factor into its cost: more established private schools with a long-standing history of providing quality education may charge more than a virtual newcomer with a small campus.

For general consideration, however, these are the annual tuition fees range of private schools in the country.

For your information

Elementary: ₱ 70,000 – ₱ 200,000

High School: ₱ 100,000 – ₱ 250,000

College: ₱ 110,000+

The total cost of education

The total cost of private school education is calculated by multiplying the annual tuition fee with the number of years that a student has to complete in that level. In the Philippines, that means 6 years for elementary education, 6 years for high school education, and 4 years or more for college.

For your information
Elementary: ₱ 420,000+

High School: ₱ 600,000+

College: ₱ 440,000+

For good measure, it is better to expect at least a 10% increase in tuition fees, every year. Again, this depends on several factors, including the school’s reputation, the structure of its curriculum, and the size of the institution and its population.

Miscellaneous expenses aside, sending your child to a private school from Elementary to High School alone would already cost you a literally a fortune. Here’s the breakdown based on the current tuition fees not accounting future inflation or tuition fee increases.

Annual tuition fee costOverall cost
Elementary₱ 70,000 - ₱ 200,000 ₱420,000 - ₱600,000
High School₱ 100,000 - ₱ 250,000 ₱600,000 - ₱1,500,000
Total₱1,020,000 - ₱2,100,000

Other costs to expect

Enrolling your child or children in private schools means accounting for more than just the tuition fees.  Part of why a private school may be better than a public school is because it accords a quality of learning that often comes with better amenities and activities.

These include PTA fees, school uniforms, school supplies, books, and other instructional materials or tools.

Additionally, make sure to factor in potential costs for field trips and other extracurricular school activities. And don’t forget to consider daily allowances, extra money for school-related matters, and transportation arrangements.

Types of additional expenses for both private and public school

Private School
ElementaryHigh School
PTA₱250₱350
Other fees₱1,500₱2,000
Books₱3,000₱3,800
School supplies₱1,600₱2,000
Other instruction materials₱800₱950
Uniform₱1,000₱1,400
Total₱8,550₱10,000

Public School

ElementaryHigh School
PTA₱200 ₱300
Other fees₱150₱200
BooksFreeFree
School supplies₱800₱900
Other instruction materials₱200₱260
Uniform₱500₱600
Total₱1,950₱2,160

Source:
psa.gov.ph

Preparatory tips for enrolling your children in private schools

It goes without saying that the costs of sending your child or children to a private school depending on the school that you choose. A private school in Metro Manila costs more than most private schools in Luzon.

However, the payoff will be great if your chosen school can offer the best possible education that you can give your child. When choosing that school, always remember to:

Identify your goals

There are many private schools in the country, and they differ greatly from each other. For instance, there are schools that focus on instilling good old conservative values in their students, while there are schools that encourage active participation in every facet of their students’ school experience.

On a similar vein, some schools provide a more concentrated form of instruction with specialized curriculums, while others do through enriching competitive learning.

The key to choosing the right private school is to identify the educational goals that you have for your child.

Study the program

It is also a good idea to be familiar with a school’s specific approach to teaching.

Some private schools depend on largely traditional modes of teaching, while others have adopted more alternative approaches in addition to their foundational classes.

Some schools also place heavy emphasis on college preparation, while others don’t. Look into the curriculum to better understand if it’s the right fit for your child.

Consider the practicalities

The best school for your child is the one that meets all of your educational quality requirements, while also easing the learning experience for your child every day. Think about:

  • the distance between your home and your chosen school
  • the specific transportation arrangement available from the school, or the specific transportation arrangement that your child needs
  • any after-school care requirements

You may also like:

How Much Is The Cost of University Education in Philippines

 

Sources:1,2,3,4

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