Senate OKs bill recognizing British School Manila as internat’l education institution

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has passed on third and final reading a bill that gives official recognition to British School Manila (BSM) as an international educational institution. 

“The British School Manila is hereby declared and officially recognized as a British
international education institution authorized to operate educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and recognized educational policies,” Senate Bill 1527 said.

According to the explanatory note in the bill, BSM follows an adopted form of the English National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Assessments point to students from BSM performing well above UK and international expectations.

The bill’s approval comes after a Department of Education (DepEd) order in March for BSM to comply with requirements to legally operate in the country as an international school.

The DepEd previously set this and another sanction against the school – not giving BSM favorable recommendations for tax exemptions – after the suicide of a student in 2015 and a subsequent administrative complaint by the student’s mother. 

It BSM had failed to acquire recognition as an educational institution, it would have been shut down by the coming school year. 

Senator Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on education, arts and
culture, authored and sponsored Senate Bill 1527. Senators Loren Legarda and Antonio Trillanes IV were co-authors. – Rappler.com