PRIVATE schools are slowly recovering from the pandemic as shown by the number of schools that remain closed.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines said that 437 private schools are not operational, lower than the more than 800 schools that were shuttered last year.

The Department of Education acknowledged that the education sector is gradually recovering from the pandemic.

“This year, we have seen a reversal in the trend on transfer of learners. Whereas there was greater migration from private to public schools last year, this year there was a net migration from public to private schools,” DepEd said.

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio highlighted the important role of complementarity in education with public and private schools.

“Private and public schools should always work together in addressing the need for Filipino learners to be equipped with the 21st-century skills. We have organized a Private Education Office in DepEd that orchestrates things to make sure that the concerns of the private education sector are addressed,” he said.