As a teacher, I can make Brazil education system overview from the inside. In Brazil, there are primarily two types of schools – public schools, and private schools. Public schools are funded by the Government, and on the other hand, private schools get funding from individuals or other entities that do not have affiliations with the Government. There are key differences between these institutions, which range from the quality of education offered to the conditions of the learning facilities.

Since private schools depend on financing from individuals, businesses, and other privately-owned enterprises, these schools are often well equipped, well built, and have facilities that are outstanding. This is not the case with public schools in Brazil, thanks to the sheer number of learning institutions under the government budget, which forces planners to allocate funds to schools from the scarce resources the government may have.

Public Schools   

Public schools face various challenges that at times make you wonder why a teacher would consider picking a job in a public school. More often than not, public schools have large numbers of students in classrooms, and the number of available teachers does not match the students in those classrooms. This leads to a situation where management and monitoring of students become difficult, which may hamper efficient and effective learning.

Students can do better in excellent and furnished environments since in such places, and they can concentrate well on their studies. Public schools do not have conducive facilities, and this impedes the process of effective and efficient learning on the part of students.

In some public schools in Brazil, there are acute shortages of crucial facilities, and teachers and students as well find it difficult to maneuver well. Working in such an environment as a teacher may be difficult. Apart from inadequate facilities and congestion, there are other inefficiencies in public schools in Brazil, which include underfunding. While tertiary public institutions of learning like universities may be appealing compared to private schools, other public schools that are below the tertiary level are not appealing, since some are neglected, have poor structures, and face many other inefficiencies that make the teaching experience boring.

Working in Private Schools

Unlike public schools, private schools are well furnished, have the requisite resources, and operate on adequate and sufficient budgets. Private schools are costly to students since they offer a top-notch education to their students.

Since public schools are under the auspices of the government, the remuneration and benefits that teachers in public schools get sometimes surpass what teachers in private schools earn. However, if that is your angle or approach, then you should be prepared to put up with challenges and difficulties of different kinds that are inherent in public schools or government education for that matter.

Students who attend private schools pay more but gain a lot compared to their counterparts in the public education system. This is because of the efficiency of operations in private schools, the availability of learning resources, and manageable numbers of students. Teachers who opt to work in private schools set themselves up for less hassling experiences, and rewarding experiences as well, since they get to interact with students more often, which allows for proper supervision, monitoring, and evaluation.

Why I Settled for a Private School

Teaching students is not a walk in the park. Teaching in itself requires you to have a passion and liking for the job, without which you cannot have a rewarding experience. While public schools have inefficiencies of their own, private schools are not short of their challenges as well, but a lot less than those in government-backed schools.

I settled for private schools since they are rigorous and serious with the work that they do. Most private schools follow and abide by high standards, which allows for career development and personal development as well. These schools also allow you as a teacher to monitor a student or a group of students over time. This can help you to track how students perform, which can help you to play a role in the future of the student actively.

In summary, the decision to work in a private school or a public school depends on you as a teacher, but it is essential to hear the pros and cons of both sides before making a move. Private schools come with their benefits which emanate from efficient management, which may not be the case with public schools. The major advantage of working in a public school is job security that is tied with all government jobs. Choosing between these two ultimately depends on how comfortable you want to be, or how you want your career to be, but any day of the week, I’d teach in a private school.