For many parents, their children’s education is a very important topic. They understand that the quality of education their kids receive can determine their future. That’s why many parents carefully consider where to send their children to study. Ideally, the establishment must be able to identify their child’s potential, develop their abilities, and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in the future.

Given that picking the right school for your child is one of the most crucial decisions you would make as a parent, it can be quite daunting. This is especially true if you’re a first-time parent. And with the number of educational institutions you can choose from today, each one claiming to be the best in their field, making a choice is definitely overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are different considerations you can factor in to narrow down your choices. Here are four tips to make choosing the right school for your child easier:

Make Sure the Tuition Fee Fits Your Budget

Most of the time, a parent’s financial capacity is a major factor in choosing among educational institutions. If you’re enrolling your child in a public school, you aren’t required to pay a tuition fee. On the other hand, if you opt to enroll them in a private school, the institution will charge not just tuition fees but also miscellaneous fees to cover the provision and maintenance of their facilities like libraries and laboratories. As such, you’ll need to prepare more funds. 

Note that there are schools that offer financial plans to help make payments more manageable for parents. And if you’re short in funds for a semester, you can get a cash loan to raise the necessary amount.

Assess the School’s Core Academics and Other Programs

For many parents, a school with a strong academic foundation is a good choice because they believe this will help prepare their kids for the challenges of college. If you subscribe to this ideal, you need to do your research about the formal curriculum of the school you’re considering. Check their program for academic subjects like English, Filipino, mathematics, and science.

That said, you should also look for a school that offers other subjects or programs that could further support your child’s development and teach them life skills. You might want to see if the school promotes extracurricular activities to enhance the students’ experiences. Remember that your child’s learning experience must go beyond notes and books; they also need other opportunities to grow. 

Lastly, try to find a school that promotes balance. The curriculum should be robust and allow your child to be academically challenged but not overwhelmed.

Look for a School That Share Your Values

Aside from the quality of education your child will receive, you also need to look at the school’s values. This involves principles that will help students to identify what’s right from wrong and also shape their mindsets as individuals. Because teachers are a child’s second parents, you’d want to pick a school with educators that can continue and supplement the values you’re already imparting to your child. As such, it’s a good idea to look for a school with values that are aligned with your family’s. 

If your family believes in a certain faith, you might want to consider enrolling your child in a sectarian school. This way, they can also receive the spiritual education you promote at home. But if this isn’t a priority for you, you may choose either a sectarian or non-sectarian school depending on your personal criteria and previous research.

Consider the Distance of the School to Your Home

If you’re shortlisting several schools, you might also want to consider their distance to your home. Are they within walking distance? If not, how long will the commute take and will it be convenient for your child? Remember, traffic jams in Metro Manila during rush hours can be notorious. It also gets worse during the rainy season. If the commute to and from your child’s school takes a large chunk of their daily schedule, you might want to re-think if this is a practical choice for your child.

In addition to the distance of your child’s school, you’ll need to evaluate the transportation options to and from school. Will they join other students and get picked up by a school transport service or will someone in your family do it? If you opt for the former, you also need to account for the payment for it in your monthly budget. If you’re planning to bring and fetch your kid by yourself, make sure you factor in the travel time along with your everyday agenda so you can be confident you won’t miss any important appointments.

 

Given that your child’s education will shape who they are as an individual and can impact their future, choosing the right school for your child is a crucial decision. You can refer to the tips mentioned above so you can choose an institution that can tap your child’s potential, accommodate their learning style, and address your practical needs as a family.