RIYADH, 13 May — Enrollment for Philippine elementary and high schools normally begin in the middle of May but here in Riyadh, it started a month ago.
Parents say the early enrollment only shows a healthy competition, thanks to the increase in the number of schools teaching the Philippine curriculum.
The International Philippine School-Riyadh (IPSR), Al-Maarefa International School, Nour Al-Maaref International School, and Al-Taj International School have started accepting enrollees as early as first week of April.
The Second Philippine International School (SPIS) started accepting new students on May 1, said school principal Epifania Bagalawis. Old students may enroll on May 16 onward.
Most of the schools accept enrollees from nursery to high school senior level, and most of them offer discounts on tuition and other fees as a come-on.
There are those who offer discounts to parents who enroll more than one student. Normally, the fifth child will gets free tuition, and the fourth one gets a 10-percent discount.
Tuition is either payable in cash or installment basis. Monthly tuition ranges from SR375 to SR500.
Miscellaneous fee covers medical, ID and library card, science and computer laboratory, student council, and athletics. Some schools require new students to take entrance test. They charge a separate fee for requiring such examination.
Many parents, however, consider accessibility as one important factor in choosing a school for their children.
Ismael Mercurio will turn grade 3 this coming school year registered at Nour Al-Maaref International School. “The school is just a few blocks away from our house that’s why we decided to enroll him there,” explained Faisal, Ismael’s father, a resident of Suleimania District.
Long drive makes children exhausted even before reaching school. “Especially during rush hour, it is difficult to drop off my son on time for his classes,” Faisal said.
Aside from Nour Al-Maaref International School, Al-Taj and SPIS are also located in Suleimania District.
IPSR is located in Um’Al-Ham’am and Al-Maarefa is in Olaya District.
The common documents required by these schools from new students are letter of honorable dismissal and good moral character, original copy of report card, photocopy of parents’ passport and iqama, child’s birth certificate, and the enrollee’s 1 x 1 picture (2-4 pieces), and form 137 (optional). Some schools require enrollee’s certificate of vaccination.
Old students may only be required to submit a photocopy of their report card, and letter of good moral character as an optional requirement.
Start of classes had been tentatively set on June 1 for the SPIS and IPSR, June 8 for Nour Al-Maaref and Al-Maarefa and June 15 for Al-Taj.
For further inquiries regarding enrollment, you may reach the following schools at these numbers: IPSR, 4545608; SPIS, 4655766; Al-Taj, 4788237; Al-Maarefa, 4624655; Nour, 4778071; and Al-Taj, 4788237.
