As a parent, I have grown up after studying in educational institutions that were funded and operated by the local government. Most of the curriculum was secular and modern with a few courses on Christianity. Our school was deeply connected with the local Catholic Church.
To be honest, for us, private schools with their exorbitant fee structures were not something that our parents could afford. They had to give education to three of my siblings including me.
However, a lot has changed over the past three decades. Private and international schools have kept bettering their standard of education and kept pace with the changing times. Public schools still look like they are stuck in the nineties!
In this article, we speak to educational experts. We ask them to give us some advice and suggestions on whether parents should still send their kids to public schools or not.
The Harsh Reality of Public Schools in Present Times
According to leading educational institutions, public schools are seriously impaired because of several reasons. Let us look at some of them below-
- There is a systematic drop in state findings in public schools. The problem with the state is not just restricted to funding, it also includes poor management, oversight, and lack of interest in developing public educational institutions.
- The lack of access to funds has prevented public schools from investing in infrastructure. Dilapidated classrooms, lack of support staff, and tight resources mean that kids cannot thrive in a public school environment.
- However, one of the major reasons why many parents avoid public schools is the poor quality of teaching and educational levels. Poor funding means teachers that are willing to work for low wages are hired. This compromises educational levels.
If you compare a public school with a school like Invictus, a Singapore international school with Hong Kong campus, you will see how big of a difference we are talking about.
Has the Nature of Modern Education changed in the last few years?
We started the article by pointing out how public schools have not been able to keep pace with the changing world. You might be wondering what is the ‘change’ that we are referring to?
In the past decade, technology has started playing a major role in our lives. The rise of digital has been instrumental in shaping education, careers and future roles. Private and international schools have quickly adapted themselves to the new change.
They have done this by altering curriculums, syllabuses, and courses. The role of technology in imparting of education via Smart Classrooms is a major reality of our times. Look at your kid. Do you see them fiddling with smartphones, tablets, and other electronic gadgets in your home?
The answer would probably be yes! These children are growing up in an environment where technology and digital are dominant entities. Making them get education by taking help from them would mean they would pick up topics and syllabuses faster.
What are some Sacrifices that Children who go to Public Schools make?
A private school or an international school definitely charges more fees. However, in return for the same, it offers excellent facilities, infrastructure, and resources.
For example, your child can develop an interest in sports when they start playing in curated fields with the best coaches training them. Or, they can pick up music if they develop a fancy during one of the many music classes and sessions.
As parents, we realize that we are living in an interconnected and globalized world. The future will hold these challenges for our kids. As parents, it is our duty to get them trained and mentored accordingly.
This is something that cannot take place in a public school. On the other hand, sending children to an international school means you are readying them to become truly global citizens.
The Bottom Line
We might have faith in our government, its leaders, and local functionaries. However, the sad truth is that they will not be able to overturn our public school education system and curriculums overnight. If we want the best for our kids, we need to send them to an institution that is building their present and shaping their future. If you have any other questions that you would like us to answer, let us know in the comments below.
