DepEd cracks down on fraudulent SHS voucher claims

The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched a crackdown on the reported misuse of the Senior High School Voucher Program, with officials making sure that rules are followed, and is taking legal action against schools and people who made fraudulent or improper claims, officials said Tuesday.

In a statement, the DepEd said that shortly after they learned of the irregularities, its Central Office filed seven cases against erring private schools and initiated criminal charges against individuals who allegedly claimed vouchers for ineligible or fictitious beneficiaries.

The cases reportedly involve a total of P37.58 million and are now undergoing the appropriate legal processes.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the reforms include major changes in how voucher subsidies are validated and released under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE).

“Binago po natin yung sistema, dati binabayaran kaagad, ina-advance yung bayad. Ngayon tinitignan talaga yung resulta at kung naka-enroll, tapos yung learner number, at nag-i-institute tayo ng mga safeguards both at the school level and at the DepEd level," Angara said.

(We changed the system. Before, payments were made immediately and in advance. Now we really check the results—whether the learner is enrolled, their learner number—and we are instituting safeguards both at the school level and at the DepEd level.

"Binabangga namin yung mga database natin na dati hindi ginagawa (We are cross-checking our databases, which was not done before)," he added.

Angara made the statement after the Commission on Audit flagged the discovery of “ghost students,” ineligible beneficiaries, and students from prestigious high-tuition private schools under its SHS voucher program.

Angara said the agency has adopted a strengthened five-step validation framework now in place to ensure that voucher subsidies are released only to qualified learners.

The process involves checking and comparing records in DepEd’s systems, fixing any mismatches, visiting private schools to make sure everything is in order, inspecting field offices, and confirming that students are actually enrolled and eligible for the vouchers in the second semester.

Malacañang also welcomed the discovery of the irregular claims. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro credited the reforms under the current DepEd leadership.

“Gusto lamang muli natin pasalamatan dahil napag-usapan ang tungkol sa ghost students. Maraming maraming salamat dahil sa pagpasok ni Secretary Sonny Angara sa DepEd, ito po ay nadiskubre,” Castro said.

(We would like to thank those who raised the issue of ghost students. Many thanks, because with Secretary Sonny Angara’s entry into DepEd, this was discovered.)

Through the tightened controls, DepEd said it prevented at least P200 million from being released to ineligible beneficiaries in School Years 2023–2024 and 2024–2025.

In parallel, the department is finalizing updated guidelines for the recognition of senior high schools participating in the voucher program.

The revised rules aim to ensure that private school participation meets consistent standards on quality, compliance, and accountability.

DepEd said the reforms are part of its broader push to strengthen transparency, fiscal discipline, and safeguards in the implementation of the Senior High School Voucher Program, ensuring that public funds are protected and directed only to learners who meet program requirements.—MCG, GMA Integrated News