DepEd recovers funds from schools with voucher program issues
Department of Education Central office in Pasig City —File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has already begun recovering funds from private schools involved in the irregularities found in the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) from 2021 to 2023.
Of the 54 schools found to be involved in the SHS-VP irregularities, 38 have fully refunded the government, while two have made partial funds, according to a statement the DepEd issued on Wednesday.
“However, 14 schools have yet to return the funds, and final demand letters will be issued to ensure compliance. To date, approximately P65 million has been recovered,” the DepEd said.
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Meanwhile, the department noted that further investigation would be needed to determine whether these financial irregularities constitute fraud.
DepEd said that 12 schools had been put under investigation for School Year (SY) 2023-2024, while three schools flagged by the Government Assistance and Subsidies Service (GASS) had also been forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for a parallel investigation.
Preventive measures
To prevent more irregularities, the DepEd would coordinate with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) to enhance its oversight capability starting in SY 2024-2025.
It said it would implement measures such as cross-referencing, a 100 percent system audit, and random field visits to private schools.
It also directed its regional and division offices to conduct inspections and tightened validation processes to ensure that only eligible learners benefit.
“We are taking decisive steps to strengthen our validation processes, hold erring schools accountable, and restore public trust in the SHS Voucher Program,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
DepEd then assured the public that further measures would be implemented in the coming months. Among these are PEAC’s validation for the second semester, which is scheduled to roll out next month, and the establishment of a billing schedule in SY 2025-2026 to streamline the disbursement process.
