The government has allayed fears that public schools were becoming more congested due to the reported mass exodus of students from private schools. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) estimated that only 2 percent, or almost 400,000, would be added to the number of students in public schools this year.

To date, there are over 18 million students in public schools and only three million in private academic institutions.

In Rizal High School in Pasig City, for instance, officials said there was no significant change in the number of enrollees in 2009 compared to 2008’s figure. Rizal High School is one of the biggest high schools in the country.

The school administration also said it  only admitted a few transferees from private schools.

Reports said parents were now opting to transfer their children to public schools because they could no longer pay the high school fees in private institutions. Some of the students in Manila even reportedly asked to be honorably dismissed to be able to transfer to public schools in the province where school fees are relatively cheaper.

The global financial crisis is said to be blamed for the reported exodus of students to public schools.

“Walang trabaho [ang] magulang [nila].  Sa probinsya, kahit papaano, makakapag-aral sila,” said Lazaro Torres, head teacher VI of Rizal High School.

Parents of students who opted to stay in Manila, meantime, are now working doubly hard to be able to buy their children's school supplies. Some are even planning to borrow money from loan sharks.

Rizal High School is set to implement programs to help parents and students cope with the crisis. In the second week of June, free shoes, PE uniforms and bags will be distributed to duly-registered students.