THE COORDINATING Council of Private Educational Associations said that around 900,000 private school students transferred to public schools since the beginning of pandemic.

“Based on what we’ve gathered, around 900,000 students have transferred. Unfortunately, they’re congesting further our public school system, which is another bad consequence of this closure of schools,” Cocopea chairman Dr. Anthony Tamayo said.

Cocopea Managing Director Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada admitted that enrollment in private schools have declined.

“Magkakaiba ‘yung decline ng enrollment, pero base doon sa aming survey, 60 percent ang nakaranas ng pagbagsak ng kanilang enrollment in varying degrees. Meron talagang halos magsara na at yung iba naman ay kaya pa,” Estrada said.

Tamayo urged the government to view private schools as an addition to the public school system amid reports of numerous private schools closing permanently.

“I think the private sector should be seen as not as a competition but compliments to each other, and should there be vacant spaces, instead also of constructing buildings, maybe the students should be given vouchers so the empty classrooms in the private sector be filled up, that would also help in preventing closure,” he said.