Principal Matters: December 9, 2002

Private schools in the UAE cater to the expatriate community by offering a range of curricula and methods of teaching. Each school has its own strengths and limitations. Every week, we profile one school and learn of its goals from a top school official

This week: An interview with Luzviminda P. Corpuz, principal, The New Filipino Private School, Sharjah

Luzviminda P. Corpuz has been an administrator of The New Filipino Private School (NFPS), Sharjah, since its inception in 1996. She became the school's principal in 2000. With a master's degree in Chemistry, she has almost 20 years of experience as a science teacher and school administrator at elementary, high school and college levels.

How is your school different from other schools in the UAE?
Luzviminda P. Corpuz: Ours is the only Filipino school in the Emirates approved by the Ministry of Education, UAE, to teach the Filipino curriculum and the first school to be approved and accredited by the Department of Education, Manila. We have children coming from as far away as RAK, UAQ and Jumeirah, Dubai. Besides children of Filipino nationality, we have many children with one of the parents being a Filipino, as well as children from other countries like Russia, the UK, Korea and China.

Tell us more about your school.
We prepare our children for the board exam and many of them are admitted to prime colleges and universities in Philippines. Our students do not have to spend the extra year which is required when a school does not follow the necessary curriculum. This saves the student precious time. Our teachers are well qualified with licences from Philippines. Since the Filipino curriculum is similar to the American curriculum, our children do well in the American education system as well. Our students spend more time on subjects like English, Mathematics and Science. Also, the Filipino language is taught in our school and that ensures easy relocation if a student needs to go back to the Philippines.

We also give due importance to extracurricular activities and participate in various interschool events. Last year, our school team won the championship in the basketball tournaments organised by Sharjah's Ministry of Education. We have an active parents-teachers association that meets every month and organises activities and projects for our students.

What aspect of this profession do you most enjoy?
I always feel privileged when past students come back to meet me and say that we have in some way contributed to their success. I remember instances when I have been able to help individual students cope with and overcome their academic or emotional problems and the difference that has made in their lives. It is a very satisfying experience to be able to mould young lives so that they become responsible human beings.

General Information about The New Filipino Private School, Sharjah:

1. Location: Al Ramla, Sharjah.
2. No of shifts: One.
3. Timing: Pre-primary – 8.00am to 11.30am, Grade I to III – 8.00am to 2.00pm, Grade IV to X – 8.00am to 4.00pm.
4. Syllabus followed: The Filipino curriculum.
5. Classes held: Kindergarten to Grade X.
6. Languages of instruction: English.
7. Secondary languages taught: Filipino, Arabic.
8. Affiliated to: Department of Education, Manila.
9. Branches: Nil.
10. Transport: Provided, fees: Dh120 to Dh175 per month.
11. Fee structure: Dh240 to Dh365 per month.
12. No of students: 400.
13. Extracurricular activities: Sports, dance, music, art and craft, elocution and recitations.
14. Criteria for admission: Passing the entrance examination and submission of valid documents.
15. Established: 1996.
16. Managed by: Aghsan Mousa.
17. Owner: Ali Taleb.
18. Pass rate for board exams: 100 per cent.
19. No of teachers: 23.
20. Scholarships, freeships: Children from the same family get certain discounts.
21. Number of nationalities represented among students: 10.

Head boy: Jasper Ramirez
Head girl: Jasmine Faronieya
Student advisor: Marlon Rita