THE GOVERNMENT is proposing a P38.2-billion allocation in 2027 to help around 2.3 million students access or continue their secondary education in private schools through various tuition assistance programs.

House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said the proposed funding would help subsidize the education of disadvantaged students who cannot access public schools or secure slots because of overcrowded classrooms.

Libanan said the assistance would give financially struggling families a better opportunity to keep their children in school and prevent students from dropping out to seek employment.

Under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the ₱38.2-billion allocation is divided into three programs: ₱12 billion for the Junior High School Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Program, ₱24 billion for the Senior High School Voucher Program, and ₱2.2 billion for the Joint Delivery Voucher Program (JDVP).

Libanan cited data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showing that financial difficulties remain a major reason students fail to complete senior high school.

During School Year 2024-2025, more than 2.04 million students enrolled in Grade 11, but 169,836, or 8.3 percent, failed to proceed to Grade 12.

Under the ESC Program, qualified students, particularly graduates of public elementary schools, are given the opportunity to attend Grades 7 to 10 in participating private schools through government-funded tuition subsidies.

Meanwhile, the Senior High School Voucher Program provides tuition assistance to qualified Grade 10 graduates pursuing Grades 11 and 12 in participating private schools.

The JDVP, on the other hand, supports senior high school students enrolled in the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track by allowing them to take specialized courses offered by private institutions and non-DepEd schools.

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) jointly administer the ESC and Senior High School Voucher programs, while DepEd directly oversees the JDVP.

Libanan said sustained government support for these programs is essential to expanding access to quality secondary education, particularly for students from financially disadvantaged families.