I.C.E. Club – Madagascar

Saturday, May 23, 2009, during the weekly meeting of Ice, we discussed: “Should education be free?” For that, the members were divided into two groups: Public School (which is free) Vs. Private school?

Private School: Schools fees are expensive and depend on the quality of the educational tools and activities.

Public School: The school fee is very low and gives chance to everyone to have access to education.

Private School: The students are not numerous and are then, well supervised by the teachers.

Public School: The students may be more numerous but do not need to be supervised, and then already start to manage by themselves. This cannot do anything but good for their future.

Private School: Private schools have the necessary educational tools which can help a lot their students.

Public School: Teachers hired in Public Schools have high degrees to teach. Most of the time, teachers in private schools are people who could not find a sweater job. It may hurt but seen in some private schools.

Private School: Students from private universities are more operational.

Public School: Students from public universities deal more with theories.

Private School: Students in private schools are more serious.

Public School: In general, guys from public schools are naughty.

How about the case of a student who really wants to study in a private college but cannot afford the fees?

Private School: A girl said: “That’s cruel but that’s life.”

Public School: The student should not worry about his/her future carrier, studying in the University of Ankatso or Vontovorona is recognized by the state, companies and other colleges abroad (for further studies)

(Please, feel free to leave your comments to keep on the discussion. Thanks!)

I used to be a teacher for 7 years, and I sincerely felt concern about this topic. The message I really want to leave is this. “Education is like building a house. The roots, the basis need to be strong and well-done. If not, the rest of the wall built later may easily break.” Future parents should think very well before choosing the right school for their kids. In my personal opinion and experience, here in Madagascar, private schools are better for the primary and secondary classes. Though, High school and college in public institutions are more efficient. Luckily, the school programs are the same in public schools and in private ones.

Preschool classes are, I agree expensive, but really important by helping your kids to develop their 5 senses and start to learn to form letters and numbers.

In many cases in private schools, when a student failed to his/her exam and should not go to upper class, the parents, in order to save money, decide to let their kid pass anyway. I do not advise you this because the reason why the student missed his/her exam means that there is a lack to fill somewhere. And following the upper class will do nothing good but strengthen this lack.

ariniaina