This is our story …

Philippine School (Bahrain) was established in 1994 through the initiative of 28 Filipinos in close cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain and support of the Bahrain Government. These 28 Filipinos, as the founding fathers of Philippine School (Bahrain), constituted the Philippine School Association.

Founders and Members of the Philippine School Association

From among the Members of the  Philippine School Association (PSA), the following nine (9) men and women were elected as the first Board of Trustees with H.E. Ambassador Akmad A. Sakkam as the first Advisor to the Board of Trustees:

First Board of Trustees of Philippine School (Bahrain)

Photo: First Board of Trustees of Philippine School (Bahrain). H.E. Ambassador Akmad A. Sakkam is seated in front. Front L-R: Venus Virginia Privado, Maria Esperanza Liamco, Pompei Ferrer, and Luz Cordova. Back L-R: Jose Larano Jr, Edgardo Querijero, Josephine Fernandez, Rodrigo Acosta, and Reuel Castro.

The first Board of Trustees drew up the PSB’s Constitution and By-Laws, searched for a suitable location, coordinated with the Bahrain Ministry of Education and the Philippine Department of Education, Culture & Sports (DECS), promoted the PSB academic offerings among members of the Filipino community, developed the school’s organization structure, recruited the first batch of teachers and staff, and did all the necessary preparation work  for the start-up.

Thereafter, the PSB grew and developed over the years. The following chronology of events highlights the important and significant periods in its history:

1995-
1996

PSB started operations on 26 August 1995 with 148 students enrolled from LKG to Grade 5. Three (3) residential buildings at Kanoo Gardens, Ghufool, Manama were leased for use as classrooms and offices. Mrs. Rodelia R. Sales was appointed as the School Principal.

Mr. George Georsua, a notable Filipino musician-composer, composed the PSB Hymn. 

The first graduation ceremony for HKG was held.

Photo. In the early days, the PSB classrooms were housed in residential type buildings located in a quiet and private neighborhood of Kanoo Garden in Ghufool.

1996-
1997

The Grade 6 level was added to the educational program.

The first graduation ceremony for Grade 6 was held.

1997–
1998

The First Year High School level was added.

DECS Undersecretary Mr. Antonio Eduardo Nachura conducted an ocular inspection of the school in connection with its application for a License to Operate. PSB passed the inspection.

The PSB received the DECS license to operate from the Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos when he visited Bahrain in March 1998.

DECS conducted the National Elementary Assessment Test (NEAT) to assess how well the PSB has taught the curriculum particularly Mathematics, English, Science, History, and The Philippine School (Bahrain) scored 100%.

The Bahrain Ministry of Education approved the request of the Philippine School (Bahrain) to offer secondary education based on the Philippine Educational system.

The fourth residential building in Kanoo Garden was leased.

Photo. H.E. President Fidel V. Ramos of the Philippines visited PSB in March 1998 to award the Philippine Department of Education, Culture and Sports’ License to Operate.

Photo. HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa (center), then the Prime Minister of Bahrain, received at his office at the Government House HE Ambassador Rodolfo Dumpaias (second from right) and members of the Philippine School (Bahrain) Board of Trustees: (L-R) Reuel Castro (Vice-Chairman), Rodrigo Acosta (Chairman) and Oscar Japitana (Treasurer).

2001–
2002

Fund-raising activities supported by parents and the PSB were launched to support the construction of the new Philippine School building at A’Ali.

2002–
2003

The construction of the new PSB building (now known as the Elementary School Building) at A’Ali was started.
 

2003–
2004

The construction of the new PSB building (now known as the Elementary School Building) at A’Ali was completed. PSB transferred from Kanoo Gardens to its new home and a soft opening was held on 20 June 2003. H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Pablo Maglaya was the Guest of Honor.

The new campus of PSB at A’Ali was jointly inaugurated on 15 December 2003 by H.H. Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalipa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain and H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Photos. HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated the new PSB school building at A’Ali, Bahrain.

2015

The Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) validated the quality of the educational services of Philippine School (Bahrain) in 2015 by awarding the School Level I Accreditation, the first ever to be granted to a Philippine school overseas. 

Photos. After an initial survey, the PAASCU delegation headed by its Executive Director Mrs. Concepcion Pijano visited and conducted the formal accreditation survey of PSB on 2-3 December 2015. The late Dr. Geronimo Salem together with the PSB administration and staff made sure the survey was a success.

2019

By complying with the prescribed education quality standards through continuous self-assessments and improvements, PAASCU renewed the accreditation of PSB in 2019 and the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) awarded PSB in 2020 the Level II Re-Accreditation Status.

Photos. PAASCU evaluators Ms. Irene Barcelon, Mr. Rodelio Santos, Ms. Delia Hernandez, Mr. Clifford Esteban visited and re-evaluated the PSB during the period March 11-12, 2019. School Director Ms. Gydabelle Naval, together with the PSB administration and staff, made sure the survey was another success.

The educational programs of the Philippine School (Bahrain) are aligned with the Philippine K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum. They are designed to promote the development of the 21st Century skills among its students with focus on holistic education, global citizenship, appreciation of Filipino values and cultural heritage, and learning for social responsibility. The School is a Filipino home away from home. It faithfully abides by its motto “Excellence through Wisdom” for the greater glory of every Filipino, the Philippines, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the world, and God.