Educator warns more private schools face shutdown amid pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — A school administrator has expressed disappointment over the “grim scenario” of private schools in the country amid the economic slump triggered by the new coronavirus pandemic.

Eleazardo Kasilag, president of the Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators, warned that more schools might close in 2021 if the government does not come to their rescue.

Kasilag explained that displaced teachers of closed private schools this year had to look for other sources of income to survive.

“If there is something in the hearts of people in the government for private schools, this is the best time to come to our rescue,” Kasilag told the Inquirer.

Data from the Department of Education (DepEd) in October showed that 865 private schools across the country stopped operations for the school year 2020-2021, displacing around 4,400 teachers and affecting at least 56,000 students.

DepEd data also showed that only 2.22 million students, or 8.87 percent of this year’s enrollment turnout, registered in private schools, while nearly 500,000 pupils transferred to public schools.