Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has warned Filipinos living abroad to verify schools carefully before enrolling their children in institutions marketing themselves as “Philippine Schools Overseas” (PSOs). In a recent advisory, the agency stressed that not all schools using the PSO label are officially recognised by the Philippine government. “Enrolling in these institutions does not guarantee a standard of education, may result in unaccredited academic units, higher tuition, and other issues arising from studying outside the official curriculum of the Department of Education,” according to the CFO. As of writing, there are only 35 accredited PSOs worldwide, of which 10 are located in the UAE, home to one of the largest Filipino communities overseas. Accredited schools in the UAE include: • Far Eastern Private School – Al Halwan Campus • Far Eastern Private School – Al Shahba Campus • New Filipino Private School • Philippine-Emirates Private School (PISCO Private) • The New Filipino Private School – Ras Al Khaimah branch • The Philippine School – Dubai • The Philippine School – Abu Dhabi • The Philippine Global School – Abu Dhabi • United International Private School • Universal Philippine School The CFO clarified that only schools granted a Permit to Operate or Government Recognition from Philippine authorities are considered legitimate PSOs. The agency urged overseas Filipinos to conduct proper verification before enrolling, warning that failure to do so could lead to academic and financial setbacks. For many Filipino families abroad, ensuring that children follow the official curriculum of the Philippine Department of Education is crucial for smooth reintegration should they return home. ICA/Expat Media
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