UMVA has learned that enrollment in Philippine Schools Overseas is projected to hold steady for the 2026‑2027 school year despite the turmoil in the Middle East.
Project Management Division chief Marita del Rosario‑Apattad explained that while some schools briefly shut their doors, they reopened as soon as alert levels eased, driven by a persistent demand from Filipino families abroad.
Even amid conflict, many overseas Filipino workers choose to remain in the region with their children, preferring the safety of staying together rather than sending youngsters back home.
“When the situation feels safe enough, parents keep their children with them where they work,” she said, recalling similar patterns observed during past crises in Libya.
These schools, fully registered and aligned with the Department of Education’s curriculum, give Filipino children a seamless pathway back into the Philippine education system, allowing them to transition smoothly into local universities and colleges.
Enrollment numbers closely mirror the presence of overseas workers; of the 36 schools spread across 11 countries, the majority sit in Gulf nations where Filipino labor concentrations are highest.
“As long as the parents are present, they want their children nearby,” del Rosario‑Apattad noted, adding that most stays in the Middle East are short‑term, making the schools’ temporary nature a practical solution.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that approximately 25,000 Filipino students are currently attending these institutions in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Italy and other locations.
The commission also flagged six unaccredited Philippine schools operating in Timor‑Leste, urging them to seek proper authorization to legitimize their programs for the sizable Filipino community there.
