International Education in Manila
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As The Philippines’ economy continues to go from strength to strength, there is more demand than ever for top class international schools. The majority of international schools in the Philippines, and the most well-regarded ones, are located in Manila.
Demand for top class international schools is especially high in the country’s capital. However, one significant blocker is preventing these schools from being built - there’s nowhere to put them!
Real estate in Manila is hard to come by for any type of new building, not least the large campuses needed for international schools. New urban zones on the outskirts of the city are being planned or are already under construction, so it’s likely that in a few years there will be a selection of international schools clustered around these areas.
Not surprisingly, transport to and from Manila’s international schools can be an issue. The city is large and sprawling. A journey may look straight forward on a map, but with distance and traffic factored in, things can change drastically.
Having said all that, the number of international schools in Manila, and the Philippines in general, is growing fast despite the challenges faced.
Due to the demand, there is a huge choice of accredited and non-accredited international schools in Manila. Plenty of these non-accredited schools offer the same excellent standards as their accredited counterparts. However, you should be aware that there is no definitive way to quantify the quality of education they offer. Do your research before you apply and make sure you are informed about your chosen school’s status.
As for the accredited international schools, they tend to have large numbers of students from both expat and native families. This is especially true of the schools located in sought-after areas like Makati City and Fort Bonifacio.
The school year begins in June and ends in March. Education is compulsory from the ages of 5 to 17. Manila is a very diverse city, so you can expect to find a wide range of nationalities in any international school. International education is very desirable for native families too, so you’re also likely to see a significant proportion of local students.
As for quality of education, you can expect the same in Manila’s international schools as you would all across Asia. Class sizes are small and teachers are usually native speakers of the language of instruction. There are extensive extra curricular options to suit every child’s interests, and quite often hot meals will be provided. Some schools offer boarding, but this is not commonplace in Manila.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Manila according to our users. However, there are another 31 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Manila based on your requirements.
