Private school vs. Public school is a debate that has been going on for years. Choosing the right school for your child is of supreme importance. After all, that is what is going to decide your child’s future. However, it can be quite an agonising task for a parent to make the choice when it comes to private school vs. public school. One has to consider a number of factors while selecting the right school for one’s child. It isn’t an easy decision to make by any means. Be it the preparation for college or for developing as a responsible individual of the society, everything depends on the school that they go to. To put it simply, it is one of the cornerstones of a child’s future and hence, it is a decision that should never go wrong.
So, considering all that, here is a list of the factors that parents should take into account while choosing between public schools and private schools!
Private school vs Public school
1. Basic Differences Between Public Schools and Private Schools
a) Curriculum
Public schools have to stick more or less to the traditional curriculum, as they are bound to follow state standards. On the other hand, a private school can be a lot more flexible and experimental with the curriculum. They have the freedom to follow a curriculum which will bring out the best from their students. While public schools lay more stress on exams and grades, the focus in private schools is on the overall development of the students.
b) Money
One of the basic differences between a public school and private school is that public schools are much more affordable than private schools, since they are funded by taxpayers. So, no tuition fee is charged from students. But, when it comes to private schools, one has to pay for tuition. However, in some particular private schools, there might be some relief in the form of scholarships for the economically weaker sections of the society. Lesser cost doesn’t really mean better education, but if you are going through financially difficult times, you can give it a thought.
2. Your Child’s Needs
Whether you are going for public schools or private schools, at the end of the day, it all depends on the individual needs of your child. You have to consider nothing but the best option for your kid, according to his/her needs. Private schools have comparatively smaller classrooms than public schools and since they give a lot of importance to co-curricular activities, they would probably be able to cater more to the individual needs of your kid. Not to say that public schools do not care for the children, but with so many students and such large classrooms and on top of that, a strict curriculum to follow, they might not be able to pay particular attention to your child. In such a case, it would be better to choose a private school over a public one.
3. What if Your Kid is Shy and Quiet?
If your child has always been very shy and not so social, a private school is a better option than a public school. Private schools have a number of activities for your kids, which help them to open up and come out of their shell. Public schools are more traditional and tend to focus more on just classroom studies. In such a scenario, a kid who is already very reserved would not get the required opportunities to develop the other sides to him/her.
4. Your Personal Preference
Your decision to choose a public school or a private would highly depend on your personal preference as well. It is you who has to decide the kind of learning environment that you would want your child to be a part of. Whether you just want your child to study and pass exams or you would prefer an overall grooming of your child preparing him/her for the future is what you have to think about. If your child has a particular talent which could be further developed in a private school, then you should not think twice and most definitely go for that one.
Conclusion
Considering all the aforementioned points, it can be safe to say that private schools do offer more advantages than public schools and people generally tend to prefer private schools much more than public schools these days. However, at the end of the day, a good school is a good school, whether public or private. Before enrolling your child in any school, you should do a thorough research on that school and the facilities they provide. You should be absolutely certain that this is the school which is going to benefit your child and his/her individual needs the most. It is all about that perfect fit and if a school’s ideals and principles match with what what you are looking for, just go for it!