The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is exploring the possibility of increasing the number of Philippine schools in countries with significant Filipino populations.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II shared in a TV interview that the initiative aims to ensure Filipino children studying abroad can smoothly transition back to the Philippines, with their education aligned with the national curriculum.
“We want to ensure that Filipino children studying abroad can easily adapt when they return home. That’s why we’re committed to expanding these schools and making sure their education is recognized in the Philippines”, Ang said.
Currently, about 35 Philippine schools are operating in countries such as Bahrain, East Timor, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
According to CFO data, there were approximately 25,000 students enrolled in these schools as of December 31, 2022, ranging from pre-elementary to high school levels.
Ang clarified that Philippine schools abroad must meet both host country and Philippine government requirements, including securing an operational permit from the host country before seeking accreditation from the Department of Education (DepEd).
