The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said it is expected to widen the coverage of its Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) programs in 2026.
The increase, said Education Secretary Sonny Angara in a statement, is contained in DepEd’s proposed P41.18-billion budget for government subsidies to the private education sector in 2026, which is P670 million higher than the 2025 allocation.
The higher funding is intended to ensure the continued expansion of, and timely delivery of, subsidies to meet growing demand.
‘All of this is to ensure the delivery of quality education, especially in areas where public schools are lacking,’ Angara said in Filipino.
‘That’s why it is the duty of DepEd to ensure that the increased funding for vouchers and subsidies is used properly. In partnership with the private sector, we will make sure that the education of more than two million young people continues and is guaranteed,’ he added, speaking in Filipino.
Under the proposed allocation, GASTPE is expected to serve 989,471 junior high school grantees under the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) program and 1,475,264 senior high school grantees under the Voucher Program (SHS VP) next year, along with sustaining the PhP24,000 annual Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) for eligible teachers in participating schools.
It is also set to assist 117,150 senior high school learners with Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) specializations.
Meanwhile, Angara noted that the increased allocation comes amid several reforms introduced to strengthen the Public and Private Basic Education Complementarity Framework.
Among these reforms are tightened implementation oversight, clarified program guidelines, and improved coordination with private school associations to address delays in processing and documentary requirements.
Angara said DepEd is also working on guidelines for the recognition of senior high schools as part of its ongoing reforms, which aim to ensure that private school partners meet consistent quality standards.
Furthermore, a five-step validation process has been implemented to ensure subsidies reach only eligible learners.
With these reforms, the DepEd Central Office is currently handling the investigation of seven cases against erring private schools and has filed criminal charges against persons responsible for fraudulently claiming subsidies for ‘ghost’ voucher beneficiaries under the SHS voucher system.