DepEd ends voucher program in 55 schools

Metro Manila, Philippines - Fifty-five schools have been terminated from the senior high school voucher program over questionable beneficiaries, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday, March 6.

The program is an initiative to decongest schools by providing subsidies to qualified students.

In a DepEd briefing at the House basic education and culture committee, program manager Tara Rama said the program was terminated in 22 institutions for school year 2021-2022; 32 in 2022-2023; and one in 2023-2024 for a number of discrepancies.

She said 12 schools are under investigation.

Rama listed the categories for termination:

+ a school has several absent student beneficiaries during the monitoring visit of its partner Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC);

+ the identified school of the student beneficiary is different from the school of enrolment;

+ the beneficiary is enrolled but has been absent since the beginning of the semester; and

+ a student beneficiary has more than one billing.

PAEC said it is possible that more schools have discrepancies as it only physically monitors 10 percent of the total participating private schools.

Additional fees

Meanwhile, lawmakers urged the DepEd to review its program so that student beneficiaries do not have to pay other school fees.

The voucher program covers P14,000 to P22,500 per student.

“Kung galing ka sa mahirap na pamilya, papasok ka ng private school, hindi mo mata-top up… Nagbibigay tayo ng pondo, sayang din kasi hindi matatapos ‘yung estudyante or ang mag-a-apply na lang diyan talaga ‘yung may kaya na rin,” said panel chairman and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo.

[Translation: If you are from a poor family and you enter a private school, you cannot shell out more. We are giving funds and it would be a waste if the student will not finish his studies. Middle-class students may be encouraged to apply for the program instead.]

“The government is spending money and yet we find out those who needed most ay hindi po nagiging sila ang [does not seem to be the] beneficiaries,” Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi said.

Meanwhile, the DepEd has not released P200 million from the program budget to flagged schools for school year 2023-2024 due to discrepancies.