DepEd files charges vs. 7 private schools with 'ghost students'

The Department of Education (DepEd) has filed charges against seven private schools for allegedly listing "ghost students" or non-existent enrollees as beneficiaries of the government's voucher program, Secretary Sonny Angara said on Wednesday.

Angara reported the development in response to Bulacan 6th District Representative Salvador Pleyto's query during a hearing of the House of Representatives appropriations committee.

"Nag-file kami ng kaso sa seven private schools na may ghost beneficiaries dito, so na-file na sa fiscal's office na 'yan at may demand letters tayo diyan," Angara said.

(We have filed cases against seven private schools with ghost beneficiaries. These have been filed with the fiscal's office, and we have issued demand letters.)

"May criminal cases tayo with the total amount involved of 61.9 million [pesos]. Tapos may pending investigation sa [DepEd] legal department regarding similar situations," he added.

(Criminal cases have been filed involving a total amount of P61.9 million. We still have a pending investigation with the DepEd legal department regarding similar situations.)

In February, DepEd said it was investigating 12 private schools for allegedly having "ghost students" under the Senior High School Voucher Program.

With the program providing financial aid to students attending senior high school in private schools, the DepEd pays the beneficiaries' tuition fees based on their name and reference number indicated on the voucher.

Incoming Grade 11 students from public schools seeking private education may receive a voucher worth P14,000 to P22,500, while eligible students from private schools may also apply for inclusion.

The Education department earlier said the 12 private schools with alleged "ghost students" are in Bulacan, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tarlac, Rizal, Northern Samar, Davao del Sur, and Maguindanao.

At a hearing of the Senate committee on basic education in March last year, government officials discussed that there were over 19,000 ghost students under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE), which includes the Senior High School Voucher Program.

The DepEd has said it is seeking to recover up to P100 million in public funds by pursuing criminal and civil cases against those behind fraudulent voucher claims. — VDV, GMA Integrated News