DepEd terminates 55 schools from SHS voucher program, withholds P200M

The Department of Education (DepEd) is facing criticism over its implementation of the voucher program designed to assist students from underprivileged backgrounds in accessing quality education through private institutions.

Concerns were raised during a House panel hearing, highlighting issues such as insufficient monitoring, lack of standardization in beneficiary screening, and potential abuse by schools requiring additional fees beyond the tuition covered by vouchers.

DepEd has terminated 55 private schools from its Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program since February 2021 due to discrepancies in billing information and learner data systems.

The Department withheld at least P200 million in funding for SY 2023-2024 as a result of these discrepancies, indicating ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and misuse of funds.

Project Manager III Tara Rama confirmed that some private schools have claimed vouchers for students who later transferred to public schools, further emphasizing the need for improved monitoring mechanisms.