Pangilinan pushes voucher program for low-income students in private schools

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a bill seeking to establish a voucher program that aims to benefit private school students from low- and middle-income households. 

Under Senate Bill No. 1841 or the “Private Education Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act,” the program would expand the coverage to underprivileged kindergarten to senior high school students who are attending private schools due to overcrowded public schools. 

The measure seeks to repeal certain sections of Republic Act No. 8545, or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act. 

“The voucher assistance shall be provided to students from middle income families, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), who attended public schools identified by the Department of Education as congested, or those living in areas with congested public schools or without a nearby public school, and who wish to enroll in private basic education schools,” the bill’s explanatory note read. 

“Students who are most vulnerable and underprivileged shall receive a higher voucher amount, as determined by the Basic Education Assistance Council (BEAC),” it added.

Further, the bill provides that participating private schools shall receive assistance based on quality assurance, and the geographic spread and size of student enrollment. 

The Department of Education earlier rolled out its classroom leasing initiative to address overcrowded public schools while construction of permanent classrooms are ongoing. 

DepEd refurbished and repurposed the leased classrooms for a few months, which is a cost-efficient solution in areas where land acquisition is a problem to expand school facilities. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News