By Lane Afable, News Editor
The Department of Education (DepEd) will continue providing subsidies to underprivileged learners in the private sector for the upcoming school year, targeting more than 2.4 million beneficiaries under the expanded Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) program.
Around 990,000 Junior High School students will be covered by the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) program, while about 1.47 million senior high school learners will benefit from the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) for School Year 2026–2027.
According to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the program aims to give families the opportunity to enroll their children in private schools to help ease expenses and reduce overcrowding in public schools.
“President Bongbong Marcos prioritizes easing the burden on Filipino families when it comes to tuition and other school expenses,” Angara said.
“No child’s education should stop simply because of a lack of money. Government assistance must reach the families who need it most. These subsidies are meant to keep children in school,” he added.
DepEd has also issued new guidelines for E-GASTPE, consolidating the implementation of ESC, SHS-VP, and the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) under a single framework.
There will also be a stronger focus on prioritizing students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including low-income households, Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities, and those in remote or geographically isolated areas—groups that are often forced to stop schooling due to financial constraints.
While students make up the bulk of beneficiaries, DepEd said support for private school teachers will continue through the TSS. This has been increased to PHP 24,000 from PHP 18,000 to ensure quality teaching, especially in schools that accept subsidized students.
Angara added that these changes address the continuing challenges of education-related costs—from transportation and uniforms to tuition—which strain family budgets, particularly those just above the poverty line.
DepEd also linked the program to broader challenges in the education system. According to the department, overcrowding in public schools affects the quality of learning.
By supporting enrollment in private schools, the number of students is better balanced, helping maintain the quality of education in both sectors.
Under the revised policy, there will be a more systematic process for selecting beneficiaries, including stricter screening and monitoring to ensure that funds go to students who truly need them.
DepEd emphasized the critical role of private schools in this initiative, describing the partnership as a practical way to expand access to education without overburdening public infrastructure.
The updated guidelines under DepEd Order No. 11, series of 2026, will take effect in School Year 2026–2027. expands subsidy for private schools for 2.4 million students
