Filipino families living outside the country are being reminded to double-check the credentials of schools branding themselves as “Philippine Schools Overseas,” following a public advisory from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
The agency stressed that the use of the label does not automatically mean a school is authorized by the Philippine government. It cautioned that some institutions operate without formal recognition, which may put students at risk academically and financially.
“Enrolling in these institutions does not guarantee a standard of education, may result in unaccredited units, higher tuition, and other issues arising from studying outside the official curriculum of the (Philippines) Department of Education.”
Based on the CFO’s latest data, only 35 schools worldwide currently hold accredited Philippine School Overseas (PSO) status. The United Arab Emirates accounts for 10 of these institutions, reflecting the country’s sizable Filipino population.
The accredited PSOs in the UAE are:
Far Eastern Private School – Al Halwan Campus
Far Eastern Private School – Al Shahba Campus
Philippine-Emirates Private School (PISCO Private)
New Filipino Private School
The Philippine School – Dubai
The Philippine School – Abu Dhabi
The Philippine Global School – Abu Dhabi
United International Private School
Universal Philippine School
The New Filipino Private School – Ras Al Khaimah branch
The CFO explained that recognition is granted only to schools that secure either a permit to operate or official government recognition from Philippine authorities. Without such authorization, institutions cannot be classified as legitimate PSOs.
The agency emphasized that verifying a school’s accreditation status remains the responsibility of parents and guardians to avoid complications related to curriculum alignment and the transfer of academic records.
