The education system in the Philippines has largely been shaped by its colonial history, particularly by the Spanish and American cultures. Today, schooling in the Philippines is largely modelled on the US education system.
Public education in the Philippines suffers from underfunding and a lack of resources, and is not a popular option for expats, who usually opt to send their children to international schools.
Most Filipino children attend public schools, which are funded by the government and free to attend. The quality of education at public schools remains poor; classes are large, teaching material is lacking and teachers are poorly paid.
Filipino and English are the main languages of instruction at public schools in the Philippines. The school year normally runs from June to March or April and a typical school week is Monday to Friday.
Those who can afford it send their children to private schools. Private schools are not funded by the government, but follow much the same curriculum as public schools. Many private schools in the Philippines started as missionary or Christian schools and therefore follow a faith-based learning system.
Filipino and English are the main languages of instruction at private schools. Classes are smaller than at public schools and facilities and resources are usually much better.
There are a number of international schools in the Philippines, most of them located in Manila. The most popular international schools follow the American, British, French, Japanese or German curriculum, while some schools also offer the International Baccalaureate programme.
Waiting lists can be long and expats should therefore start the admission process as soon as possible.
Fees at international schools in the Philippines can be very expensive and expats should factor this into any contract negotiations.
