Parents outraged as PHL school in UAE to halve pupil numbers

Filipino parents in the United Arab Emirates are incensed over a Philippine school’s decision to downsize the number of its pupils to 650 from 1,200, a news site said Friday. Gulf News reported that the parents have asked the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi to look into the reduction of pupil numbers at the Philippine National School (PNS) for school year 2011-2012. Last month, the PNS sent a circular to the parents of pupils, saying the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) had instructed the school to trim the number of its learners. ADEC had said it would relocate the displaced pupils to other schools to ensure there is no disruption to their education. UAE authorities are planning to phase out villa schools in the UAE — such as the PNS — due to health and safety concerns, according to the report. “Villas are not built to be schools, and in this case, serious health and safety issues have given cause to ADEC to issue a letter that will downsize the student population," ADEC said. School official 'shocked' Philippine Ambassador Grace Princesa said she had met with parents of the PNS and PISCO Private School, another school that has received a notification to downsize. Princesa said she will convey the concerns of parents to UAE authorities. PNS principal Dr. Ofelia Padilla said they were surprised by ADEC’s notification. “We had always passed every inspection by both ADEC and the Civil Defense, but when we received the notice in March we were shocked," she said. Padilla admitted the school had received a notification for the reduction of pupil numbers. She said the parents were not alerted immediately because the PNS had been hoping to come to a resolution with ADEC. For now, she said the displaced pupils will be enrolled at the newly-established 21st Century School. Parents worried Donde Cotanda, a sales executive whose child is in Grade VI at PNS, said he and his wife are worried as they want their children to undergo a Philippine-based curriculum. With a Philippine-based curriculum, parents need not worry about their children continuing their higher education successfully back home. “We wish that we were informed about these changes earlier because we could have then made the necessary arrangements, including sending our children back home if necessary," Cotanda said. Another parent, Alma Delacerna, a lawyer and mother of two girls aged eight and 13, said they are hoping for one year’s extension. “We hope that we can be granted just one year’s extension so that we can do the necessary preparations for our children’s future education. If no extension is given, I will consider home schooling my daughters," she said. — JE, GMA News