Just recently I have been writing some articles aimed at US military retirees, pointing out the fact that unlike the USA environment, where a military retirement is actually just a license to get another job, a military family can actually retire (as in not have a job) and live in the Philippines.
But What About My Children?
Invariably, if it’s a younger family involved, the issue of “But what will happen with my children? How can I send them to school in the Philippines? What kind of opportunity will they have in the Philippines”?
(and so forth … almost always with a tone of dread in the question, as if they figure moving to the Philippines with children will be akin to a death sentence or some such.)
It’s a fair enough question, but one based on rumor, propaganda and a good helping of US jingoism. The reality is, whatever the President might say, the USA is NOT the “World’s Indispensable Nation” any more in many ways. Don’t get me wrong, about the USA, “she’s” still my country and I’m proud to be an American, but growing up and getting a job and living in the USA is not the only measure of success anymore, as it might have been in the past.
In fact, as we sail on deeper into the 21st century, a more “global” outlook is going to be ever more important, in my view. In the world of business and science and engineering and such, US citizens with experience overseas, the ability to work closely with their counterparts in other countries… yeah, may I throw in a sacrilegious sentiment here, people who can understand the Metric system, even, are going to be ever more in demand.
Your Children Have As Much Opportunity in the Philippines as Anywhere Else
That’s my opinion. And I’ll tell you exactly why I say that.
Your children’s opportunity in life is determined by two main things. The education they receive and much more importantly, your leadership .. how you love them, guide them, train and correct them and the type of attitude you imbue them with to serve them all their lives.
In the Philippines you can address their education in at least three different ways:
1. Send them to a decent International School
There are quite a number of them to choose from. They all cost more than the allegedly ‘free” schools most kids go to in the USA, but they all teach significantly more than what the average US School system teaches. (except, perhaps football). If your child grows up in the Philippines and successfully attends and grads from an accredited International school, his or her chances for success, either with going on to college or going right out into the field of earning a living, are at least as good as a student graduating from any US high school I have ever been acquainted with.
2. Send Then to a “Name Band” Philippine Private School
The Philippines has quite a number of very well respected private schools (mostly what we would call “parochial schools” in the USA, since most are run under the auspices of one or another Catholic organization. The cost is less than an International school (usually), and the curriculum may be less internationalized, but they will get a decent education … again, at least equal if not better to any high school education they are likely to get in the USA. And they will already be more “Internationalized” in terms of language and dealing with the cultures of the rest of the world, as well as their own native USA.
3. Home School Them
Although this would not be what some parents would wish, it would certainly be my choice if I had a child to raise today. There are any number of US schools who now offer complete “online” high school courses, and also the older concept of “correspondence school’ where you subscribe and lessons, texts, tests and coaching (via the Internet) come right to your home. One source where you can find a wealth of information on these programs is Best Online High Schools a web site (and some best selling books) authored by Tom Nixon who is reader here, I know. There are competitors too, Tom isn’t the only game in town. Open your mind from the way things were always done 50 years ago and familiarize yourself with the 21st century .. it’s a great place to live.
One thing I found doing research for this article is that many “name brand” US universities are copying the practice which has long been common in the Philippines and the rest of Asia. The universities have their own “feeder schools” … offering education from pre-school all the way through high school, all designed to control the entire educational process up though advanced university degrees. Stanford, BYU, quite a few more I’ve seen are getting into this “vertical marketing”, offering the same resources and quality of education to students all over the world.
So with respect to education, I don’t see any limit at all regarding your children’s opportunity in the Philippines.
But What About After Graduation, There Are No Jobs in the Philippines, Right?
Well personally I say that is completely wrong, factually and philosophically.
First of All Who Says a J*O*B is the only definition of success? I’m well acquainted with the son of a close friend here in the Philippines who just graduated from a (Name Brand) Philippine private high school. For the time being at least, this fellow isn’t planning on university (although his school has an excellent track record of getting their graduates admitted to colleges and universities here and abroad) … so this young man’s options are by no means closed off to him.
For now he’s building his own income online, doing website development and I believe hosting websites for others. What else might he do as time goes by .. hey who can say the world is his oyster, and he can easily be earning more than a typical US “entry level” job long before he reaches college graduation age … and he doesn’t have to punch a clock, wear a uniform (military or business attire) or be told what to do and how to live for the next 30 or 40 years as you and I did in earning a military retirement. Since this young man is a dual Philippine-US citizen (as your children can be also if you retire here), he has every opportunity available to children born and raised in the USA have as well, should he decide to go back to the USA in the future. As a Philippine citizen, he is free to live here the rest of his life as well, owning property, voting, exercising the other privileges of a Filipino .. and being able to visit countries without a visa that US citizens can’t in a few cases.
Opportunity For You Children Is One Of The Best Reasons to Live in the Philippines, IMO
This article is already grown longer than the average reader cares for, so I’m going to close it out for now. I could give you lots more examples of children’s success here, either dual citizen US-Philippine children or many “straight” Filipino young people I know who are successfully employed here in the Philippines, many in large international corporations where their growth is only limited by the perseverance and desires.
The one item I should have covered is the career path that eventually brought me and many other readers here to the Philippines … service in the US military. It doesn’t seem so popular today as it did when I entered the US military almost 50 years ago. But it’s still a worthy career .. the US military is actually one of the largest and best equipped training and educational institutions on earth, and a young man entering the US military today will start at the entry level in a job with far, far more responsibility and opportunity than a HS grad getting a job at McDonald’s or a new college grad becoming some glorified clerk selling insurance or peddling stocks or one of the other “good” jobs that college grads can get.
If your child in the Philippines decides s/he does want a military career, has two years or more of college and is a US citizen or has a Green Card or other mans to enter the US legally, they can join the US military right out the Philippines … so that path to career success is also open to your children if you bring them to the Philippines to live and grow.
Your thoughts?
Education is the primary reason I am leaving. After spending hours days weeks researching this vary subject it was my conclusion. Why; The Philippines ranks poorly for educational standards across the board. Not a single University ranked in the 500 world wide. Options yes there are options always. Home school is a skill set I do not have and private school is costly and would be a better value state side. The best option is a tutor with a 2nd tier private school. Yet still money out of pocket. I would rather be stateside if I must provide for tutors and private schools.
As for joining the US military right out of the Philippines possible however much harder. You must have gone to one of two schools here Brent School or British School. You must have 12 years of primary education. Otherwise you will need a GED and score in the top tier on the ASVAB or 12 credit hours from a US based university. I was a recruiter for 5 years so its not easy from here.
Better is a matter of opinion however given all the facts to gain an equal education to a public school in the US plan to shell out 250-400 dollars monthly per child. That for me is times 2. Expense versus reward is not equal.
There are benefits to raising your children here. Job and success are not one in the same. However you should be prepared for the extra effort and cost you MUST place in education here. No dropping them off at 7am and gathering at 3pm.
Thanks for your thoughts, Tim … I wrote this to promote discussion. Two “counter points” if I may:
1. When I talk about Home School I perhaps did not make enough distinction between the traditional home school where a parent (or, in the Philippines, a graduate teacher you hire to teach in your home, perhaps) provides the instruction, and the online programs from universities as prestigious as Stanford where the children “attend” via distance learning.
2. I’m not really sure where your cost comparison comes in. Are you thinking you are getting “free’ education up through high school in the USA? Ever looked at your property tax bill, stare income tax, state sales tax and so on? You live here in the Philippines and pay no taxes (except VAT (sales tax)) and have to pay for private education. In the US, you can send your child to school for “free” but.you “pay’ for their education in many indirect ways. Not meaning to be argumentative, but you can’t logical apples to oranges. My llast year in the USA, in an Incorporated area in a rural country my home property tax was about $2000 USD.a year (even though I no longer had children in school). Here in the outskirts of Manila I pay P1012 (just under $125 USD) per year. So is education “free” in the USA?
I love your last paragraph. It should be mandatory reading for all parents no matter where they live:
… MUST place in education here. No dropping them off at 7am and gathering at 3pm.
Amen. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Good education costs money. I do not deny that. Just on a fixed pension and costs involved it is best in my situation it is best to return. Being young I can work earn a living and afford the better things. Yes it all can be done and is reasonable in price, $250 dollars month here would obtain an education better then US public schools. Yet times two and extras just to much. That is what I calculated the costs at.
“Not a single [Philippine] University ranked in the 500 world wide.” – Tim Potter
In fact, only one university in Southeast Asia made the top 400 world wide, and that is the King Mongkut’s University of Technology in Thailand.
However, if your “primary reason” for leaving the Philippines is because none of its universities made the list, perhaps you ought to consider the fact that a university education never figured heavily in the founding of either Microsoft or Facebook, whose founders are both billionaires today. Secondly, you may be interested to know that a Judge of the International Court of Justice at the Hague who happens to be also a member of the Philippine Senate and the current president of the Philippines are both products of Philippine universities that did not make the list of the top 400 worldwide, having attended the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila, respectively.
Two examples in a country of 90 million does nothing but support my claim. The Philippines is the mecca of educational learning. They are light years behind. The rich are educated abroad. Denying this helps no one nor does it go to improve the current situation. There will always be cream that rises to the top.
There is no denying that Philippine universities have a long way to go to match up with the standards of the universities that were ranked in the top 400 worldwide for 2012-2013, which, by the way are dominated by western countries led by the United States. Heck, even the creme de la creme of Manila – the Ateneo, De La Salle and U.P. were out-classed by the University of Wyoming, the last on the list.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/world-ranking/range/351-400
However, that is not the point of contention. The 4 examples given are to demonstrate that you do not have to attend a university in the United States to make it in the global world as Miriam Defensor Santiago, a product of U.P., had done to be selected as a Judge at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Nor do you even have to obtain a university degree if money is your measure of success as exemplified by Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Facebook co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, both of whom were college dropouts.
But, of course, this is not to say that all expat children who attend Philippine universities will turn out to be like Miriam Defensor Santiago or Noynoy Aquino. In the end, success or failure depends entirely on how the individual applies himself. You’re free to go, we don’t want you in the Philippines. LOL (joke lang!)
No joke I am leaving and gave that in my opening line thus my position would be known.
There are no promises that any education level will make you a success. Here success measured by educational levels is not comparable to the west. They have a long ways to go to level the field. Education is a building block for everything and for every Bill Gates there are 1000’s of college success stories. So when Global Companies hire and competition comes down to that piece of paper. There in lies my point.
As I stated also primary education 1-12 years can be offset with money to provide that education. The low university ranking was more of a point to show the poor standards of education here.
So when global companies hire and competition comes down to that piece of paper, the person hired among a field of bright Filipino and foreign applicants is, – would you believe? – none other than an acquaintance from Botolan, Zambales, an alumnus of lowly Zambales Academy – to disprove your point. As hard as it is to believe, this former carabao driver is today the CFO of a multi-national company based in Europe. To visit his home in Botolan, Zambales, (look it up) is to be transported to a tranquil Japanese house in the countryside, complete with tatami rooms, sliding doors, a heated sunken bathtub, a sand and stone garden accentuated by a stone bridge over a pond. We’re going back and forth with this. The bottom line is, it’s useless to predict success or failure based on a preconceived notion about schools, whether they are in the West, or in Timbuktu. It all comes down to the individual and what he is made of.
When all is equal yes education does and your university. You are giving equality to something that was ranked light years outside of equal. There is nothing good about the University system in the Philippines when given a choice. Reality is the rich are sending their children abroad for an education. The character of a person will only get you so far, you must have an education. Your always providing a single example not of multiple stories of success that fall outside of nepotism. Where are the Filipino thinkers in science, research, technology, fortune 500 companies, innovators and leaders in global business. They are missing because of education and the Philippine governments lack of focus on education. So yes education is a very important piece of the puzzle though not the end all be all.
Miriam Santiago went to Harvard, Oxford, University of Michigan, Stanford and Cambridge. Her degrees are well rounded outside of the Philippines.
Wrong. Where did you get the idea that I am “giving equality” to Philippine universities with the top universities from western countries? I’ve said at the beginning that Philippine universities have a long way to go to match up with the standards of the universities that were ranked in the top 400 worldwide. Neither am I discounting the importance of good education as a determinant of success. What I have problem accepting is your unwavering conviction that good education cannot be had from a Philippine university, and, that it is only possible from a Stateside university. I suggest that you make an appointment to visit an Ateneo de Manila class in business while in session sometime before you leave the country. You’d find that it’s not exactly a mirror copy of a Wharton MBA program, but ask one of the graduate students there just to satisfy your curiousity about their training in global competitiveness.
As for the Philippine government’s lack of focus on education, why is it that foreign students from Iran, South Korea, China, ASEAN, and oher countries from around the world are flocking to the country to attend Philippine universities. Because it’s cheap, yes? Anything else?
If they mirrored other universities they would be ranked better. There is a flaw in the system or just a cheap copy.
Lack of focus how about shortage of classrooms, books, desks, chairs, and failure to pay teacher bonuses. All being equal and a choice given most would not chose to be educated by the standards set here. When you retire young money is an issue and a quality education here is expensive.
Twenty-six thousand foreigners studying in Philippine universities in 2011 and more than 61,000 in 2012 couldn’t all be wrong!
Hi Tim – You mentioned in a previous comment “Where are the Filipino thinkers in science, research, technology, fortune 500 companies, innovators and leaders in global business. They are missing because of education and the Philippine Governments lack of focus on education”. The formal schooling system even in the mighty America, Canada, Australia etc etc doesn’t teach people to be mighty entrepreneurs or geniuses. In fact it teaches people to be drones and get a job and do as they are told. If you do as your told and answer the questions right you go closer to the top of the class and if you don’t you go closer to the bottom. Improving the low standards of education in the Philippines will help big time, but it won’t make Philippine people mighty entrepreneurs and geniuses. The formal education system just can’t do that. Entrepreneurs and geniuses can be made though!
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get my daughter into the U.S., so I want the best education in Davao that I can get her. I want her to have many opportunities for a great life, either here or there.
Right now, after checking many high schools in the city, I have her in Southpoint School. Bad thing, in my opinion, is that she is in a 10 year program instead of a 12 year that I feel would have her more preparred for college.
The home school in this article is very interesting, but I don’t feel we could do that one. Maybe I just don’t feel qualified to teach or motivate her that much. I’d rather still be the dad at home that helps her with homeword when needed.
The part of the article about military retirement is also interesting. The only military retired that I have met (Acutually retired from only military), is the group on VA or military disability.
I would like to see more on this group talked about also. (would be interesting, although I’m not a military retiree).
Thanks to Dave for this article, I enjoyed reading it.
@ Kenneth Crawley:
You’re more than welcome, Kenneth. Thanks to you for the kind words. As I mentioned in the previous comment, there are other alternatives to learning at home that don’t rely upon the parent being the only teacher/motivator. But you know what I think, now, twenty years after my youngest graduated high school (back in the USA)? Where they go to school, how many grade levels they have, what people say the ‘quality” of the school is and all that hoopla is about as important as yesterday’s bird cage liner.
The parents are THE single most important teacher their children will ever have … and feeling challenged and daunted by thre task is absolutely how you should feel … you will never have a more difficult, or important, calling in this life.
Dave,
I’m lucky I don’t have to worry about my childrens education. They are all adults and have long been on there own. The only thing I will miss is seeing my grand children. Other than that I am enjoying my new life here.
@ PapaDuck,
Yep I am glad (and relieved and very proud) that my two boys spread their wings more than 20 years ago.
You did say something really important though, something more of us wanna be writers should emphasize more.
So many people worry about what are actually trivial issues .. the “Cost of Living” in the Philippines, niggle-niggle about how Immigration Works (or doesn’t, the annoyance of some neighbor letting his dogs (or roosters) run, and so forth.
But one huge issue about retiring to the Philippines to any of is is just this:
.miss is seeing my grand children.
And your own children, and perhaps elderly parents, nieces, nephews, old school or service friends, etc.
We are far from home and the tug of family, friends and familiar surroundings is often way, way more important than how much school tuition costs.
Dave….are you saying your American born children cab own a house?
I see the courses here in the PI that children are doing in lower grade school which are the same as, or surpass what my grandson was doing in high school in the USA
and then I see some one saying how low rated the schools here are on a world level. How can this be? Are the statistics only from public schools? Maybe they compare the public school here to the top private schools world wide? Maybe its the real deal. I would like to know.
They only get 10 years of schooling. That recently changed. Class size, materials, facilities, and ability to attend. They all play a part. Also to much time spent on non-educational programs. You must be more vigilant in your educational oversight here. There is a huge requirement for parents to assist in education here.
I left the Philippines at 12 yrs old in the early ’70s. Moved to San Francisco, CA and attended the public school system. Starting in the 7th grade, we were being taught English grammar and fractions – subjects that we were taught in the 4th grade in the Philippines. My classmates were disruptive and showed no respect for the school authorities. My parents pushed us all 8 kids and we all earned our college degrees in the U.S.
In high school I was given an A grade in Physics when the teacher spent many weeks showing us films and what he did during the previous summer – teacher did not know physics but smart enough to know how to occupy our time. Students were promoted to the next grade level without knowing the subjects. I moved on to Algebra and earned a B for not really knowing the subject. I was smart enough to retake the course. Same with Geometry – took it twice. I graduated high school with decent grades and got admitted to college majoring in Electrical Engineering.
It was in college that I found out the disparity in education in the U.S. Those of us who came from inner city schools earned inferior education to kids who went to school in the suburbs. After the shock of the first year, I had to work double time to keep up with the school work. Because of lack of money, I finished my bachelor degree in 3 years, instead of the usual 4 yrs.
I wouldn’t paint a broad brush and say that education in the Philippines is always inferior to that of the U.S. I would say that education in the Philippines is superior to that of inner city schools in the U.S. California probably spends close to $10k a year to put a student through public school. Imagine what that amount can accomplish in any third world country. What my situation proves is that there is another wild card in the equation – the ability and determination of the student.
In my mind, immigrants in the US are hungrier than many natives and it shows in the statistics. More than half of all PhD’s in engineering are earned by foreign students. More than a third of start up companies are started by or with immigrants’ involvement. The Philippines Dado Banatao is one such immigrant. He started three companies that were all successful. One of his companies, Chips & Technologies, was bought out by Intel in 1997 for almost $500 million. Dado graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines and went on to earn a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford in 1979.
The broad brush is not painted by me but by international agencies that rank educational standards for different countries. Public education vs public education Philippines is way behind. Adding a tutor and private schooling you can easily pass US public schooling. Yet there is a cost to that. People from humble backgrounds tend to take advantage of offerings in education.
I have to agree with Aldel. I had the opportunity to assist one of the public grade school in South Carolina few years ago and saw how these students were being advance to the next grade even though the teacher or the school for that matter knows that they’re not ready yet. I watched a six grader take a 4th grader test and a third grader that don’t know how to read, and the teacher has to read the exam to him just to take the exam. As a parent, we all want the best for our children when it comes to education but the school system, if broken, does not help us especially the students in getting ready for their next phase in school nor in life. By the way, the reason why they have to advance children to the next level (as they told me) is “funding”. The less people they advance, the more funding cuts they’ll get. So how are we (those that still lives here in the US) better than other school in other third world countries?
It might be true that US has far more equipment, classrooms, books etc etc than the Philippines but in the end it’s really up to us parents how we’ll support our kids and really, its up to our kids how they’ll complete their school years.
Have you ever been to a Philippine classroom. I have.. Average class size 55, shared books, no desks for students. There are no libraries or educational centers and no arts or sports in school. In SC you must pass an exit exam to graduate they can kick that can down the road, but in 8th grade to advance you must also pass a test. The funding is based on attendance and test scores. This is similar for many states. As I continue to state because of the article title is to equal education in the US it cost money.
You must be talking about a public school, Tim. You certainly are not talking about a quality private school. What you describe is nothing like where my kids attend school, at Ateneo de Davao. They even have a brand new beautiful swimming pool on campus! Desks? Books? Plenty of supply. 55 in a class? It will never happen. They have beautiful library facilities, a computer lab and plenty of other such things. There is an absolutely beautiful sports complex that houses multiple basketball courts. A soccer field a beautiful track with a rubberized surface. It is a much nicer school than any school I ever attended when I was a kid.
Yes apples for apples. If I were to pay money for schooling I would expect that.
There is no place in the world where you don’t pay money for schooling. The States? What do you think Property taxes are for?
@ Tim Potter
Thanks for your insights but I respectfully would ask you re-read what I wrote … especially the title which you reference, incorrectly.
None of my alternatives ever recommend Philippine Public Schools. I really don’t know why the major part of the discussion has turned into a debate on the Philippine public schools system. For the record I do not recommend it.
I wish you well on your move back to the USA, the Philippines is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, that’s for sure. Be well.
I’m also fortunate in so much my children graduated from a UK univesity so I had none of the problems associated with raising them in the Philippines. In saying that however my wife graduated from Xavier University CDO and it never handicaped her in any way during her working career both in the Philippines or abroad. I truly think its all down to the individual in the end.
Regards.
Jim.
I grew up in the Philippines, did High school there, and some college, at age 22 I dropped of college to join the US Navy thru the US Naval Base in Subic Bay, I successfully passed after competing against thousands of other young filipinos. I’m still a college dropout froma Philippine college in the province, I am currently workign for a DoD contractor and earning over $10,000 a month based on my military experience. Which means I did not need a college degree to be successfull in life. I think other college drop-outs like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Ted Turner, Ralph Lauren, etc would agree.
Mr Boon I would agree 100% you are a success story. Sometimes upwards of 100,000 applicants applied for those 400 slots. Your test scores and interview must have been off the charts. Congrats on a great career. For those that do not know the history search US Navy Philippine Enlistment Program (PEP).
Tim,
Thanks.What I’m trying to say is, even though “Not a single Philippine University ranked in the 500 world wide.” some top universities in the Philippines can still produce quality education that can compete worldwide. I have several classmates who are educated here but are now successful doctors, nurses, school administrators, bank superivsor etc. one of my high school classmate, a doctor was recognized as one of the Top Gastroenterologist in Florida. My family lives in the Philippines right now, and my 2 kids who are currently in high school are more likely to study college in the Philippines.
Regards,
Eli
When we moved from Canada last year we knew education was going to be an issue. To alleviate it we saved up a sum of money in a Registered Education Savings Plan so they could return to Canada for their post graduate studies.
The kids are going to an accredited International School in Angeles, but despite the high price, the quality of the education does not compare to the public school back in Canada. Case in point, my daughter (grade 4) was doing an exercise with timezones. She was to determine local time from 17:00 GMT on 12 cities around the world. I showed her how to find the time variances and she then added and subtracted to get local time. After sending her back to correct it 3 times I was satisfied it was correct and she understood the why and how’s of the exercise.
The next day I asked how it went and she said it was all wrong. The next words out of my mouth were not suitable for print but to sum it up, like hell it was wrong. I checked every answer that night and the corrected answers were all wrong. I then did the entire exercise myself and took it to the office the next morning.
We met with the vice principal and after explaining what was wrong she checked it. Sure enough I was right, and the teacher was wrong. I then asked how do I trust the grading system now, if my daughter gets a 0 now, was her previous scores suspect as well. She assured me they would review her work and find out why the answers to the exercise were incorrect.
Later that day when we picked up kids I was asked to come into the office. They determined the cause of the incorrect answers. The teacher was determining the timezone by counting lines of longitude plus or minus from London. Which is correct but does not handle partial timezones like New Delhi. The problem was the Longitudinal line for London was +1 on the map. The map was printed inaccurate and nobody picked it up. So it was not the teachers fault, but the maps fault, according to the VP. I pointed out that it was a quality control issue and it was the purchaser of the map and management that was at fault. I the expressed my displeasure regarding the quality of the teaching materials versus the 100K plus a head price we payed for said education.
For the TLDR (to long didn’t read) maybe specific schools are equal to a Canadian Public School, but even spending top peso here does not equate to top quality education.
It’s more fun the Philippines.
Hi Kyle – I am good a maths – That sounds complicated and I might have even got it wrong.
I have several older friends, in their 50s or early 60s, who have retired to the Phils and now have children. If they should die, not sure how they will be able to survive given they rely on military pension or SS. I know the spouse and kids continue to receive, just not sure how much or if the husband educated the family on what to do in case of death. Just a thought to consider for those moving to the Phils in search of a new life. I know most of them do not plan on having children, but for the wifes, its a big deal not to have kids with their husband. Do some careful family planning.
Hi Dave – Nice article. I have a 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter going to silliiman a Protestant private school in Dumaguete and they are Australian citizens and we have been in the Philippines for 16 months. Silliman is regarded amongst the best in the country. It costs only $625 a year, very cheap I say and very good.
I don’t pin the hopes of my children on any education system though. Yes education will teach you stuff that will serve you well in life. But real life experience that you learn from parents and closer friends can be of much greater value. You don’t learn self esteem, self confidence, self belief, discipline, finance and many other things that well from many schooling systems.
Essentially the attitude of the parents and people close to them is way more important to a child’s grounding in life. To travel and live in another country will benefit children as it teaches them broader life experiences and skills. I don’t believe broader experiences will shrink a persons life or potential.
I think the main point missed here applies all over the world. If you want a job in a particular country it is best to be educated in that country!
You can succeed or fail no matter what school you go to. It does seem that now with the internet one can learn at any place especially with the support of two educated parents. I believe most expats on this site are retired like Dave Starr and have time to help their kids more than if they were in the US busting their butt at a 9 to 5 job.
@ Jay
Absolutely Jay, thanks for getting my point. The comments/discussions have been interesting to say the least, but the whole comment chain has gone off into a discussion/debate on the relative quality of Philippine schools.
The opportunities available for one’s children ar NOT directly related to what schools are available to them, unless one chooses to abdicate their real role as parents and just turn their children over to an educational system which focuses on making little no-thinking automatons whose main talent is following rules and fitting in.
The advantage offered by the Philippines to military retirees is that they can actually “retire” at a relatively young age and actually take an active role in raising their children. The alternative is to work at a 9-5 in the USA during the entire period that their children are growing up … and take what they get as a result of just turning their children oiver to others to raise.
Neither way is inherently “right’ or “wrong”, but moving to the Philippines before you are an OF like me is an interesting alternative not typically available to non-military folk.
Looking at a few of the various university rankings, the criteria seem centered on research, faculty awards, and publication. NOT on getting the best education for your undergraduate child. I’ve also read that, in the United States, college grads know less than high school grads did a generation ago, so things are not getting better here. I’ve been impressed with the quality of education all my neices and nephews have received in the Philippines. As the quality of life continues to decline in the U.S. and improve in the Philippines, I don’t know where the two countries will end up.
I’ve not read all the comments, so sorry if I am repeating somebody.
Thanks, Dave, for the mention of my website. Yes, more than ever before, people have a choice in where to educate their children. You can certainly live in the Philippines, but use a U.S. school. This is particularly true with the faster Internet speeds in the Philippines now.
Hi Guys,
Mine question is are there in Davao Tagum or CDO any real international elementary child friendly schools? if possible with western teachers..Yes it be fine if that school is non religious,,..Pricing is not a obstacle…
Hi Flakes,
There is an International type school in Davao City, it is called Faith Academy. It is located in the Marfori Heights area of the city. Most of the teachers are American. There are a few Korean teachers, I believe, and I believe there is one Filipino teacher. It is primarily a school for Missionary families, but non-missionaries can attend also, but at a higher tuition rate. Last time I checked into the tuition there, it was about US$12,000 per year per student for a non-missionary.
I am not aware of any such schools in CdO or Tagum. They may exist, I just don’t know of any, though.
Good luck.
Bob
Hi,
Thanks for your reply Bob…However Its not really what i am looking for since i can do without the religious aspect and this school is seems rather religious..If anyone knows a child friendly int school with western approach in mindanao i would like to hear about it.My favorite cities in mindanao are Davao and CDO..
Hi Flakes – You will be hard pressed not to get religious in the Philippines. The apparent secular schools will most likely sing songs to Jesus. About 99.9% of people here believe in God and almost all of them are from christendom. You picked the wrong country if you want to avoid religion!
That is the only international school in Davao, which is why I passed it along to you. I understand you are not specifically looking for a religious school, but that is all that is available.