Are private schools better than state schools?
For parents, few things are more important than their child's education. In many countries, parents of school-age children can choose to send their child to a private school rather than to a state school. In this essay, state schools are defined as those that do not charge tuition fees because they are funded and run by local or central government; private schools, on the other hand, are funded almost entirely by the fees that they charge. Before deciding where to educate their child, parents need to examine the differences between the two types of school, particularly as regards the curriculum, the quality of tuition and student achievement.
Private and state schools are comparable in some respects. Like state schools, private schools aim to develop the knowledge, skills and character of students, in order to prepare them for their future lives. Both types of school are also very similar in the way they organize their teaching and assessment, using terms or semesters with assessments at the end of the academic year.
Despite these similarities, there are a number of marked differences in the way that state and private schools operate. The range of subjects taught at state schools is largely limited by the demands of the national curriculum. In contrast, private schools can offer a greater choice of subjects, because they generally have more money to spend on equipment, technology and staff than state schools do.
Teachers working within the state system must have recognized teaching qualifications and are paid according to a national scale. Private schools, however, are in a position to offer higher salaries and may therefore be able to attract subject specialists who have considerable expertise in their field.
In general, it is true to say that while state schools have a high student-teacher ratio, private schools tend to offer smaller classes. This may lead to better discipline in private schools with the result that students may achieve somewhat higher academic standards.
It is clear, therefore, that there are significant differences between private and state schools and that private schools may offer advantages. The benefits of private schooling must, however, be balanced against the cost involved and each family's budget priorities.
