DepEd targets to distribute more SHS vouchers in 2023

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said that it is now better equipped to fulfill its mandate to improve and expand access to quality education for Junior and Senior High School students with the expected increase in funds next year.

In a statement, DepEd said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the proposal to raise its Government Assistance and Subsidies initiatives which include Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) and Educational Service Contracting (ESC) under Tier 1 budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.

“Out of the P626.18 billion approved Tier 1 Level to the DepEd by the DBM, per National Budget Memorandum No. 142, ‘Budget Call for FY 2023’, SHS VP got approval for P39.33 billion,” the department said.

The agency noted that the increased budget for SHS-VP will cover 1,132,155 beneficiaries for School Year 2023-2024, while the ESC with a fund of P11.05 billion will cover 1,031,193 grantees.

The ESC and SHS VP will aid private education institutions by making payments to private schools on their billings filed and claimed in previous years, according to the DepEd. 

“In addition, the agency is also financially capacitated to make full payments to concerned private schools within one budget year,” it said.

Under the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or Republic Act No. 10533 (RA 10533), the years of schooling in basic education has been expanded from 10 years to 12 years.

Due to the additional two years, the government, through this law, will provide financial assistance to qualified grade 10 completers entering senior high school.

DepEd, through Order No. 11 series of 2015 (DO 11 s.2015) introduced the Senior High School Voucher Program as a mechanism to provide financial assistance to senior high school students affected by the new basic education curriculum.—LDF, GMA News