Philippine Private Schools Warn of Delays in Expanded Education Voucher Program

Private schools on Thursday said the proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act, approved by the bicameral conference committee, could face delays in implementation due to procurement requirements. “We respectfully appeal for reconsideration of one implementation provision that may disrupt the timely delivery of the Basic Education Voucher Program,” Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) and its member national organization said in a statement. “The issue before us is not whether the government should exercise oversight,” the schools added. “The question is how that oversight can be exercised without disrupting a program that hundreds of thousands of Filipino learners and their families rely on.” Under the proposed bill, a third-party co-implementor must be procured through the government procurement process to ensure accountability. The group noted that the engagement process under the existing procurement rules could last up to 12 months. “Because the voucher program operates within the fixed timetable of every school year, such delays could affect enrollment planning, voucher processing, and the timely release of assistance to students and participating schools,” they said. “We therefore respectfully urge the members of the Bicameral Conference Committee to adopt an implementation mechanism that will preserve both government accountability and the continuity of the program,” they added. The proposed expansion of the voucher assistance program aims to cover learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12, easing classroom congestion across public schools nationwide by allowing them to enroll in private institutions. Students from low-income households and disadvantaged sectors, including learners in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), Indigenous Peoples, and 4Ps beneficiaries, are prioritized for the program. Students from low-income households or those classified as disadvantaged may also receive higher voucher amounts, and completers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and disadvantaged learners in GIDAs are considered automatic voucher recipients. “The Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act represents one of the most significant education reforms in recent years,” the private schools group said. “Its success will depend not only on sound policy, but also on timely, predictable, and uninterrupted implementation.” The bicam-approved measure is the reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1981 and House Bill No. 4744, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act (GASTPE). — Almira Louise S. Martinez