The Commission on Filipinos Overseas has issued an advisory urging overseas Filipinos to exercise caution when enrolling in institutions abroad that claim to be Philippine Schools Overseas.
According to the advisory, some institutes and training centers market themselves as Philippine Schools Overseas or PSOs even if they do not have official recognition from the Philippine government. The CFO warned that enrolling in these institutions does not guarantee standard education aligned with the Philippine curriculum.
Officials said students may end up earning unaccredited academic units, paying higher tuition fees, or facing problems when transferring records back to the Philippines. These issues often arise when schools operate outside the official curriculum set by the Department of Education.
As of writing, there are only 35 accredited Philippine Schools Overseas worldwide, with 10 PH schools in the UAE. The CFO emphasized that only schools with a valid Permit to Operate or Government Recognition from Philippine authorities are considered legitimate PSOs.
List of Accredited Philippine Overseas Schools (PSO) Abroad
Please check the full list below as shared by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas:
Kingdom of Bahrain
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Philippine School Bahrain
Kingdom of Cambodia
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Philippine International School of Phnom Penh
Republic of Timor-Leste
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Maharlika International School
Republic of Greece
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Philippine School in Greece
Republic of Italy
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International Migrants School
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International Philippine School in Italy
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Al Danah International School
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Al Madj International School Dammam
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Al Taj International School
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Elite International School
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Future Generation Philippine International School
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International Philippine School in Al-Khobar
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International Philippine School in Jeddah
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International Philippine School in Riyadh
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Palm Crest International School
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Philippine International School in Buraydah
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Second Philippine International School
State of Kuwait
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Philippine International English School
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New Kuwait-Philippines International School
Sultanate of Oman
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Philippine School – Oman
State of Qatar
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Philippine School Doha
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Philippine International School – Qatar
United Arab Emirates
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Far Eastern Private School – Al Halwan Campus
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Far Eastern Private School – Al Shahba Campus
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Philippine-Emirates Private School (PISCO Private)
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New Filipino Private School
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The Philippine School – Dubai
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The Philippine School – Abu Dhabi
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The Philippine Global School – Abu Dhabi
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United International Private School
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Universal Philippine School
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The New Filipino Private School – Ras Al Khaimah Branch
State of Libya
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Philippine Community School – Tripoli
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Philippine Centennial Academy, International
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Philippine Cooperative Academy in Libya
Philippine Schools Overseas are intended to serve Filipino communities abroad by offering education that follows the Philippine basic education system. This allows students to transition smoothly back to local schools in the Philippines if needed.
The advisory comes amid reports that some overseas institutions use the “Philippine school” label without proper approval, potentially misleading parents and students.
Who is affected? Overseas Filipino families planning to enroll their children in schools abroad.
Where does this apply? Globally, wherever institutions claim to operate as Philippine Schools Overseas.
When does this matter? Before paying tuition or submitting enrollment documents.
The CFO is advising parents to verify a school’s accreditation status before enrollment. Families are encouraged to check official government sources or contact Philippine embassies and consulates for guidance.