900K estudyante ng private schools, nag-transfer sa public schools

ni Lolet Abania | August 30, 2022

Nasa tinatayang 900,000 estudyante mula sa mga pribadong paaralan ang nag-transfer na sa mga pampublikong paaralan mula nang magsimula ang pandemya noong 2020, ayon sa isang grupo ng mga private schools sa bansa ngayong Martes.

“Based on what we’ve gathered, around 900,000 students have transferred.

Unfortunately, they’re congesting further our public school system, which is another bad consequence of this closure of schools,” pahayag ni Dr. Anthony Tamayo, chairman ng Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations sa isang interview.

Ayon naman kay Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada, managing director ng grupo, 60 porsiyento ng mga private schools ay nakitaan ng pagbaba ng enrollment.

“Magkakaiba ‘yung decline ng enrollment. Pero base doon sa aming survey, 60 percent ang nakaranas ng pagbagsak ng kanilang enrollment in varying degrees. Meron talagang halos magsara na, at ‘yung iba naman ay kaya pa,” saad ni Estrada sa hiwalay na interview.

Sa gitna ng mga reports ng mga permanent closures ng maraming private schools sa buong bansa, umapela si Tamayo sa gobyerno na ikonsidera ang mga pribadong paaralan bilang isang complementary o pantulong sa public school system ng bansa.

“I think the private sector should be seen as a, not as a competition but complements to each other. And should there be vacant spaces, instead also of constructing buildings, maybe the students should be given vouchers so the empty classrooms in the private sector be filled up.

That would also help in preventing closure,” paliwanag ni Tamayo.

Sinabi naman ni Estrada, “Like, now, there’s a shortage of classrooms in public schools, 91,000 daw. So if you look at it, then why do we have many private schools closing down also? And unused spaces. So, I think, we really have to look at the resources available to us, to be able to help each other and improve our Philippine education system.”

Ayon pa kay Tamayo, makatutulong ang gobyerno sa mga estudyante sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng halaga na ibinibigay sa mga senior high school students na mayroong mga vouchers para sa kanilang enrollment sa mga private schools.

“An increase in that amount would be highly appreciated by the public sector. And you can also include an increase in the junior high school sector for the education service contracting,” sabi ni Tamayo.

Nanawagan din si Tamayo sa pamahalaan na i-expand nito ang voucher program para makabilang ang elementary school students.

“In the grade school, there is no voucher program at all. And that would be a big help.

Aside from giving choice to the students, it would also now provide access to quality education,” ani Tamayo.