RP attaché in ME to focus on education concerns

By Marco Lorenzana

WITH the growing number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) in the Middle East and the establishment of Philippine schools in the said region, the country is set to deploy its first attaché to focus on educational needs of the Filipino families there.

Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the schools will follow the Philippine basic education curriculum and are regulated by DepEd.

Lapus claimed that there are some 43 Philippine schools in the Middle East of which 23 are located in Saudi Arabia and the attaché will assume office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2010.

According to Lapus, the attaché will supervise and assist the schools, recognition of the students’ qualifications and the schools programs and eventual enrolment in higher education is a key thrust.

“This move is aligned to the presidential directive to give special attention to Filipino students abroad,” Lapus added.

Since June 2008, DepEd and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have been in close coordination for a historic development in the country’s educational landscape.

Dr. Estrella Babano who has served as DepEd Regional Director for Northern Mindanao (Region 10) for 11 years was selected for the new post, she is a proponent of several initiatives in education, especially in strengthening Muslim education and indigenous communities.