| Philippine Schools Overseas |
 |
 |
|
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas serves as the Secretariat to the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (IACPSO), which coordinates inter-agency policy and program initiatives to assist in the establishment and standardization of Philippine schools overseas (PSOs).
PSOs are duly-registered educational institutions operating outside the Philippines and implementing the educational curriculum approved by the Department of Education (DepEd). The schools are either accredited, or have pending applications for accreditation by DepEd. They must also possess a valid permit to operate issued by their host country. By their very nature, PSOs need to comply with the requirements and regulations of the Philippine government and pertinent regulations of the countries where they are located. PSOs have been established to address educational needs of children of Filipinos overseas, and ultimately, facilitate their reintegration into the Philippine educational system. The schools also serve as a venue for the teaching and propagation of the Filipino culture and heritage among Filipino youth overseas and a locus of community activity. Forty four (44) PSOs have been established and made operational in nine countries - Bahrain, China, Greece, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. More than 20,000 students are currently enrolled in PSOs at various levels, from pre-elementary, elementary, and high school. |