Two years after a Senate hearing, the Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to release new guidelines for the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP). During the January 20 hearing, Senator Win Gatchalian criticized the delay, questioning the agency's seriousness in addressing issues like 'ghost' students and improper beneficiary targeting.
On Tuesday, January 20, during the Senate basic education committee hearing, Senator Win Gatchalian called out the Department of Education (DepEd) for failing to release new guidelines for the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) two years after issues were discussed in 2024. The program provides subsidies ranging from P8,750 to P22,500 per year for Grades 11 and 12 students attending private schools to ease overcrowding in public institutions.
"In my opinion, hindi seryoso ang DepEd para ayusin itong problema natin sa voucher program," said Gatchalian, who led the 2024 inquiries. "Ganoon ba kabagal ang DepEd para ayusin ang problemang matagal nang pinag-uusapan? These problems are not new."
Data from the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey for school year 2024-2025 shows that 67% of SHS VP beneficiaries are not considered poor. Additionally, some beneficiaries are enrolled in private schools with tuition fees of at least P100,000, according to Commission on Audit findings. Since February 2023, DepEd has terminated 55 schools from the program due to questionable claims.
DepEd aims to issue the new guidelines in the first quarter of the year. DepEd Director for Finance Tara Rama explained that issuing sweeping guidelines is challenging, as they require review by two offices and consultation with private schools. In the meantime, a five-layer validation mechanism has been implemented since school year 2024-2025 in partnership with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) to prevent abuse.
The layers include validation in the Learner Information System (LIS), PEAC post-audit monitoring, and validations by regional and division offices. The hearing also touched on accepting students from non-congested schools, which Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned: "Bakit 'nyo tatanggapin 'yung mga estudyante na mag-apply sa inyo going to private school eh there’s no congestion?"
Meanwhile, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) recommended strategic targeting of vouchers to effectively reduce congestion, particularly in regions like Metro Manila with 536,057 aisle elementary students. There are 136,573 available seats in private schools in those areas.