K–6 COVERAGE IN EXPANDED PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM SOUGHT

SENATOR Win Gatchalian is pushing to expand government assistance to private schools through a uniform voucher system which will include learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Aside from implementing a uniform voucher system in all levels of private basic education, Gatchalian also seeks to ensure that government assistance to private schools will result in the decongestion of overcrowded public schools.

 “Tutulong tayo sa pribadong paaralan, pero ang benepisyo dapat diretso sa mga estudyanteng higit na nangangailangan,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

His bill also pushes prioritization for learners from low-income households and completers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

By filing the Government Assistance to Private Basic Education Act (Senate Bill No. 364), Gatchalian seeks to address gaps in the current implementation of programs under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), including the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) and the Educational Service Contracting (ESC).

During the 19th Congress, Gatchalian led an inquiry which flagged billions of pesos in leakages for both the SHS-VP and the ESC. The inquiry also raised alarms on the inclusion of ghost students in the SHS-VP.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam Aquino is pushing for stiffer penalties against individuals and schools that defraud government funds under the private school voucher program.

Aquino made the call after a Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) official revealed that some private schools operating under provisional permits had abused the Senior High School (SHS) voucher program through the use of ghost students and other fraudulent acts.

During a hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, which he chairs, on proposed measures to modernize and strengthen the government’s support for private basic education, Aquino said a separate and higher penalty should be included in the committee report to deter fraud.

“Iyong isa sigurong puwede nating madagdag sa committee report ay a separate penalty for schools or for individuals who are defrauding our students,” Aquino said.

Aquino stressed that the proposed heavier penalties would be recommended in the committee report to prevent the misuse of funds intended for the students’ education.

“Puwede tayong maglagay ng iba pang penalty kasi iyong kinakaso niyo, syndicated estafa. In fact, baka nga falsification of commercial documents lang. But maybe in this bill, we can include the penalties for those who will do fraudulent behavior,” he insisted.

“Kasi pag ninanakaw natin pera na dapat napupunta sa mga kabataan, parang ibang level po iyon ng kasamaan. So maybe we can recommend in our committee report, in our version, separate penalty for those who are defrauding government and using this voucher system,” he added.

He expressed hope that his proposal would gain the support of his colleagues, stressing that stiffer penalties would make potential offenders think twice before attempting to exploit the system.

“We will recommend that for the committee and I hope I can get the support of our colleagues, para kung sinuman ang magtatangka na gumawa ng masamang bagay gamit ang sistemang ito, gamit ang pera ng DepEd, magdadalawang isip dahil mayroong separate na penalty na isama. Itaas natin iyong penalty na iyon,” Aquino emphasized.