JEDDAH, 15 May 2005 — A “high-level” mission from Manila is coming to Jeddah to look into the plight of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ), the biggest Philippine overseas school that supposedly needs urgent rehabilitation to avoid outright closure.
Arab News learned that the team composed of representatives of the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (IAC) will be in Jeddah from May 23-26 to “discuss with the Philippine Consulate General and (Saudi) education authorities a proposal for the immediate rehabilitation of IPSJ and its continued operation.”
The team includes the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
“This visit might be the shot in the arm that the school urgently needs,” said an official from the consulate, who warned that the school is in such a “bad shape.”
Records obtained by Arab News showed that the IPSJ has no money to spend for school year 2005-2006, which starts early next month. The school’s Summary of Cash Receipts and Expenditures (financial report) dated April 17, 2005, revealed that the school has cash on hand of only 522.40 riyals, while its accounts payable has amounted to SR651,443.50, including SR250,000 for the rental of the school’s 12 villas.
As of yesterday, there were only 74 students who have enrolled, and more than half of them are dependents of teachers and school staff, who pay discounted tuition, Arab News learned.
At this time of the year, one parent observed, 80 percent of the school’s yearly average of 1,100 students should have already signed up for the coming school year.
Many IPSJ students have reportedly moved to rival Al Hekma International School, which had put up the sister school Gems because it could not accommodate many of the transferees. Upstarts Bader International School and Sunrise International School have also reported increases in their enrolments.
Down but Not Out
Amid the uncertainties, the acting chairman of board of IPSJ called on parents to rally behind the school administration and help keep the school alive.
“Tulungan natin ang IPSJ dahil atin ito. Huwag natin siraan (Let’s help IPSJ because it’s ours. Let’s not help destroy what belongs to us),” acting Chairman Mardi Dimalotang said in a phone interview with Arab News.
“I assure the parents that IPSJ will open on June 4, 2005 (the regular opening day of classes for Philippine schools) as scheduled. Don’t believe in rumors,” he added.
A number of parents told Arab News they want their children to remain at IPSJ but they will “wait and see” because of uncertainties facing the school.
“My children grew up at IPSJ and I believe the school has a very competent faculty. I hope the parents will unite to keep it alive,” said one parent. The parents who talked with Arab News pleaded not to be named “for security reasons.”
Many parents of IPSJ students have been mauled over the years for getting involved in power struggles. Infighting have eventually weakened the school’s foundations.
Among those caught in the IPSJ’s messy power struggles was Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop, who was recalled to Manila in mid-2003 upon the demand of his allies in a takeover bid of the school management after their partnership went sour. Last year, elected board chairman Lito Lazo quit his post after an attempt by still unidentified persons to run him over with a car.
The constant infighting at IPSJ has apparently gotten into the nerves of local education officials. On April 20, 2005, during a meeting with officials of the consulate and the school board (BOT), Prof. Yousef Malibari recommended the closure of the school, citing “violence that occurred during school year 2004-2005, differences between members of the BOT and emergence of the groups, financial difficulties, and complaint of teachers of unpaid salaries and benefits,” among other reasons.
Emergency Measures
Those present during the meeting, however, objected to the closure proposal but agreed that drastic measures were needed to save the school.
Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot, as member of the committee formed to help the school get out of trouble, proposed to the Saudi Ministry of Education a 7-point transformation package for IPSJ.
Details of the proposed package were not immediately but Lomondot assured parents that it would restore confidence in the school management.
Lomondot said he had earlier adopted a “hands-off” policy with the IPSJ he received instructions from Commission on Filipinos Overseas executive director Jose Molano, Jr. to “intervene” to help save the school.
Arab News learned that the mission was originally scheduled to visit Jeddah in June but the deepening crisis in IPSJ made the officials change their travel plans.
