UAE hosts 10 CFO-accredited Philippine Schools Overseas

Massive Filipino diaspora since the 1970s global oil crisis led to the establishment of Philippine curriculum-based schools abroad – and after a long while – the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), posted on its official Facebook Page, the 35 accredited Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) in accordance with the standards, rules and requirements of the Philippines’ Department of Education (DepEd).

CFO, directly under the Office of the President, is the lead agency of the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas.

In coordination with DepEd, it plays a critical role in the monitoring and assessment of PSOs.

From the CFO advisory, re-shared 329 times as of 4:40pm on Feb. 21, five of the 10 accredited PSOs in the UAE operate under the Al Ansari Education Group (AEG).

These are the two Far Eastern Private Schools (FEPS) in Sharjah; two New Filipino Private Schools (NFPS) in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah; and the Universal Philippine School in Al Ain. In Abu Dhabi are the Philippine Emirates Private School, The Philippine School and the Philippine Global School.

In Dubai are The Philippine School and the United International Private School. Others are spread out in Saudi Arabia with 10; Libya, three; Kuwait, Qatar, and Italy, two each; Bahrain, Oman, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, and Greece, one each. The advisory comes after the recent top-level CFO delegation visit to the UAE, led by Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang III, who met with officials and representatives of the 10 PSOs in the country.

Ang also had engagements with officials from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge and the Knowledge Human Development Authority; whereby it was encouraged that more PSOs must be set up in UAE, relative to the booming Filipino population and the interest of other expatriates to enrol their children in Philippine schools.

At Ang’s courtesy call to Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, emphasised was the importance for the CFO to match the growth with policies and strategies commensurate to the international credentials for quality basic education. Moreover, Ver pointed out that “many of our students prefer to remain in the UAE after graduation because the government here offers generous opportunities and a high quality of life.”

Qatar-based Association of Philippine Schools Overseas president Noemi Formaran was among the hundreds who commented on the CFO advisory.

She was email interviewed: “The list of the accredited PSOs confirms that these had undergone rigorous vetting regarding its facilities, faculty qualifications, and quality assurance. It strengthens the legal and diplomatic recognition since these schools operate under a unique legal framework involving both Philippine law and the host country’s regulations. The list verifies host country compliance.”

The Philippine School Doha-Senior High School Department vice principal pointed out: “Students and graduates of accredited PSOs will have a seamless entry or re-entry in any of the schools in the Philippines because their grades and credits are recognised by the Philippine Government and are therefore valid. They need not be forced to repeat a grade level. They will not face the ‘No Credit’ status.”

Additionally, “they are eligible to participate in national assessments or qualify for Philippine-based scholarships and state university admissions.”

For AEG owner/managing director Tess Al Ansari, the CFO list “reinforces legitimacy and promotes awareness of recognised Philippine education standards. This supports informed parent choices and maintains quality across the sector.” Al Ansari recalled: “Unfortunately, we had encountered challenges concerning student transferees from institutions without proper accreditation or documents.”

For one, the community for several years was rife with talks about a Filipino couple who expanded their business network to include a school in Dubai. Eventually, parents lured to enrol their children in this supposed-to-be accredited PSO found out they were fooled. KHDA consequently shut down this entity, following as well, the circumvention of its world-class standards, rules and regulations.

That led parents to look for other schools. Between 2024 and 2025, talks again erupted as a mother ranted on Facebook her frustration and anger against the owner of this dud PSO because no school in the Philippines wanted to admit her two children.

Sharjah mother Rachel Srinivasan, mother to FEPS-Al Shabab Campus Grade 5 student Sara Alizon A. Srinivasan commended the CFO for the list guides families, “vulnerable to exploitation, especially if the fees were competitive, to which accredited PSO they must enrol their children in.”