Philippine schools overseas (PSOs) are duly registered educational institutions operating outside the Philippines and implementing the basic education curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd). PSOs are required to comply with the requirements and regulations of the government of the Philippines and the host countries. A valid permit to operate from the host country is required before applying for accreditation from the Philippine DepEd.
PSOs are established to address the educational needs of children of Filipinos overseas, and eventually facilitate their reintegration into the Philippine educational system upon their return to the Philippines. The schools also provide a venue for the teaching and propagation of the Filipino culture and heritage among Filipino youth overseas and serve as a locus for Filipino community activity.
As of May 2011, there are forty-one (41) PSOs in ten (10) countries – Bahrain, China, East Timor, Greece, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Of these schools, thirty-five (35) have Certificates of Recognition or Government Permits issued by the Philippine DepEd and six (6) have provisional permits. There is an estimated 27,500 students currently enrolled in PSOs at various levels, from pre-elementary, elementary, and high school.
The vital role of these schools in the education of children of Filipinos overseas calls for certain standards of management and operation. The IACPSO formulates the policies and procedures governing the establishment, management, and operation of such schools.
The IACPSO was established in February 1995 and strengthened through Executive Order No. 252 dated 05 May 2000. It is co-chaired by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Other members of the IACPSO are the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
The PISQ adopts the Montessori curriculum in the pre-school department. It believes that the approach offers the best tool in providing a carefully planned and stimulating environment – one that will help preschoolers develop the foundational habits, attitudes, skills, and ideas that are essential for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning. The PISQ is also registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore exists as a private judicial entity under Philippine laws.
The PISQ envisions itself as a learning institution manned by competent leaders and mentors who are committed to the holistic growth of every student, under a tradition of excellence, in a safe and caring environment. Equip every learner with knowledge, skills, values, and motivation for productive and successful involvement in a humane and fast-evolving society. Education shall contribute to the development of God-loving, nationalistic, and globally competitive citizens who will actively participate in building a just and humane society.
