ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education should have held a series of consultation with the stakeholders like students, parents and teachers before issuing their memoranda cutting the financial aid for Graces 11 and 12 in state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges.

“Sana nagkaroon ng konsultasyon sa mga students, parents and teachers kasi apektado sila dito. Sa mga estudyante at magulang kasi mawawalan sila ng ayuda at makikipagsiksikan sa mga public high schools. Sa mga teachers din na maaaring in limbo ang kanilang load at trabaho dahil dito,” the solon said.

“Sa sinasabi ng DepEd at CHED na dapat na 5 taon lang ang programang ito ay dapat na lalo nilang napaghandaan ang konsultasyon para dito hindi yung bigla na lang na maglalabas na lang agad ng memo na libu-libo ang apektado,” she added.

According to Education Undersecretary Michael Poa, DepEd had already stopped providing financial assistance to incoming Grade 11 students in SUCs and LUCs before the school year started, so that no one would be displaced.

Under Department Order No. 2023-020 issued on July 26, a month before the start of the current school year of 2023-2024, there would be no more financial assistance to the senior high school voucher program among state and local universities and colleges—except for Grade 12 students in that school year.

The engagement should have been limited to a five-year transition period covering school years 2016 to 2021, in accordance with Republic Act No. 10533 on the K-12 educational system.

“The implementation of these memos should be held in abeyance after a thorough consultation have been done with all of the stakeholders and that their welfare especially the students and teachers are ensured,” ended Rep. Castro.