A boarding school is where students live on campus while receiving formal education. The phrase “boarding” refers to “room and board,” meaning housing and meals.
Students in boarding schools learn and live with their classmates and with some teachers and administrators. Some boarding institutions also accept day students who attend school during the day and spend the evenings with their families away from campus.
Their operations, norms and ethics differ widely because they have been around for many centuries, and are now spreading across numerous nations.
On the other hand, a day school is a place of learning where students receive training during the day before going home. In comparison to boarding school, day school offers full-day programmes.
Advantages of Boarding School
Mutual/peer learning
In a boarding school setting, you have the opportunity to learn, interact, play and live with your peers. A unique opportunity for development and learning exists in the environment of a diversified boarding school with students from various origins.
It promotes learning
A boarding school is a centre for education. Many schools provide many opportunities for students to challenge themselves and apply what they learn in the classroom. This comprises places for the performing arts, science labs, sports courts, and other places.
Gaining independence
While beginning a new life at boarding school is a huge experience, lifestyle adjustment can be intimidating. Experienced boarding personnel are aware of this. They are aware of how much care to provide initially and how to progressively encourage children to take on greater responsibility. Boarding students become more independent as the days go by. They tend to adjust to the rhythm of school life and to handle a timetable packed with courses, meals, and extracurricular activities. They also learn to keep their rooms tidy, organise themselves for weekly laundry, and make good use of their free time.
Further academic pursuits
A boarding school has lots of options to do exciting things during free time that support students’ mental and physical wellness. There are nearby resources for learning, including a library, an art room, sports facilities, chess partners, robotics courses, opportunities to discover international food and a variety of cooking possibilities.
Disadvantages of Boarding School
Adjusting difficulty
Adjusting to a new environment can be challenging for adolescents. Living with other students can be difficult for many of them.
Periodic stress
With daily courses and the same pattern, the life of a boarder can get difficult. In addition to school stress, there is stress brought on by parental expectations and rigid rules.
Increased immoral acts
Some boarding school students participate in all kinds of immoral behaviours that put their lives in jeopardy, including homosexuality, hard drug use, and other immoral activities.
Absence of parental care
Enrolling in a boarding school also fosters this level of independence and freedom in decision-making in areas or situations when parents should be properly informed, allowing them to disregard parental involvement.
Advantages of Day School
Increased parental guidance
Parents can participate more in the day-to-day activities of the children. More care and attention are given to the child compared to those in boarding schools.
Low tuition fees
The overall cost of tuition is much lower. The tuition for day schooling is roughly half that of boarding in schools that provide both options.
Home education
Keep in mind that education doesn’t just take place in classrooms where instructors are frequently pressed for time as they try to teach students the material and prepare them for tests. Home education is another type of education that strengthens the parent-child bond and also improves the child’s other intellectual pursuits such as drama, politics, art, literature, etc.
Disadvantages of Day School
Transportation cost
Transportation costs are a major concern for day students. The schools offer transportation service, which is usually on the high side.
Defined learning hours
Day schools lag behind boarding schools in that they only have defined learning hours. Students at a day school are unable to speak with their teachers outside of class hours, in contrast to boarding schools.
Overpampering
Some children are over-pampered by their parents, leading to unseriousness in school, poor behaviours, and lack of discipline.