Philippine International School in Assir

Background

In February 2006, Mrs. Susan Perolino Jarina started conducting tutorial lessons for some children of Filipinos working in Abha, Assir Region. She used her house for these tutorial classes. During these tutorial classes, and seeing the dedication of both the parents and the childfree, she made her decision to establish a school for the children of overseas Filipino workers in Abha and Khamis Mushayt. Per consultation with the Saudi authorities in Abha and the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah and with the help of the Filipino Communities and Organizations in Abha and the Chief News Bureau of ABS-CBN, the school was established.

On 13 March 2006, the Department of Education in the Philippines, the Office of the Price in Abha and the Ministry of Education in Abha Assir Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia granted the school a permit to operate in Abha Province. The school was named Philippine International School in Assir. The school is located in Khamis Mushyat, Abha Assir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In school year 2006-2007, the school opened and started with 13 student enrollees for nursery, kinder, preparatory, and grades one to five, with five teachers including the founder. The temporary classroom was held in a gymnasium. In school year 2007-2008, the enrollees increased to almost 100 students, with one fourth year enrollee, who became the first graduate of this school.

The school now has 13 teachers and it is expecting that the enrollees will exceed one hundred.