Education

Education in the Philippines

The Philippines offers various educational options for expat families, from international schools following global curricula to quality local private schools at lower costs.

K-12 System

The Philippines follows a K-12 system (implemented 2013):

• Kindergarten: 1 year (age 5)
• Elementary: Grades 1-6 (ages 6-11)
• Junior High School: Grades 7-10 (ages 12-15)
• Senior High School: Grades 11-12 (ages 16-17)

School year runs June to March.

International Schools

Manila:

• International School Manila (ISM) - American curriculum
• British School Manila
• German European School
• Brent International School
• Singapore School Manila
• Tuition: $15,000-30,000/year

Cebu:

• Cebu International School
• Singapore School Cebu
• Tuition: $8,000-15,000/year

Characteristics:

• English-medium instruction
• IB, American, or British curricula
• Modern facilities
• Diverse student body
• University preparation focus

Private Local Schools

Quality options:

• De La Salle schools
• Ateneo schools
• Assumption schools
• Xavier School

Benefits:

• Much lower tuition: ₱100,000-500,000/year ($1,800-9,000)
• Good academic standards
• English as medium of instruction
• Cultural integration opportunity

Considerations:

• Religious affiliation (Catholic majority)
• Less international curriculum alignment
• May require Filipino language classes

Public Schools

• Free education
• Quality varies significantly
• Large class sizes
• Filipino-medium in lower grades
• Not typically chosen by expats

Higher Education

The Philippines is a popular destination for international students, especially for:

• Medicine and nursing
• Dentistry
• Business
• Engineering

Top universities:

• University of the Philippines (UP) - Top public
• Ateneo de Manila University - Premier private
• De La Salle University
• University of Santo Tomas - Oldest in Asia

Tuition:

• Public universities: ₱15,000-50,000/year ($270-900)
• Private universities: ₱100,000-300,000/year ($1,800-5,400)
• Medical schools: ₱200,000-500,000/year ($3,600-9,000)

Much more affordable than Western countries while offering English-medium instruction.

For Expat Children

Enrollment requirements:

• Birth certificate (authenticated)
• Previous school records
• Passport and visa
• Medical records/immunizations
• Entrance examination (some schools)

Tips:

• Apply early - international schools have waitlists
• Consider starting in June (Philippine school year start)
• Visit schools before committing
• Check commute times - Manila traffic affects school choice