EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara is strengthening collaboration with private education stakeholders through the Public-Private Complementarity Framework.

In partnership with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), the Department of Education (DepEd) is developing a three-year action plan to address ongoing challenges and implement the administration’s 5-Point Reform Agenda.

This initiative builds on a recent workshop focused on operationalizing the Public-Private Complementarity Framework, which seeks to address long-standing issues in education, such as overcrowding and teaching quality.

“As you know, DepEd faces persistent challenges, but we continue to work with our private partners to bring our projects to life and transform the education system,” Angara said.

DepEd also recently hosted private school leaders at the 27th National Convention and the annual Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) Haligi ng Karunungan Awards. The event focused on the future of private education institutions and the integration of private-public school complementarity.

During the FAPSA Convention, Angara recognized the vital contributions of private schools to basic education and reaffirmed DepEd’s commitment to improving policies and programs in collaboration with these institutions.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognizes the critical role of the private sector in nation-building. His administration is advocating for stronger public-private collaboration, not just in business, but in education,” he said.

Furthermore, PEAC and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) expressed their support for DepEd as the agency investigates reports of ‘ghost students’ in the Senior High School Voucher Program, allegedly involving 12 private schools across nine divisions.

“The PEAC reaffirms its commitment to the proper implementation of subsidy programs. Together, we will continue working toward a transparent, fair, and effective voucher program that truly serves the needs of Filipino learners,” PEAC stated.

According to PEAC, the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program has supported approximately 6.1 million students since its inception and benefited 1,287,144 learners enrolled in 4,421 private senior high schools nationwide for the 2024-2025 school year alone.

Last year, DepEd partnered with the private sector to mobilize support for priority initiatives, including preparations for international assessments and enhancements to the SHS Work Immersion Program.

A total of 37 private schools have been selected to participate in international assessments. With the support of both private and public stakeholders, Secretary Angara aims to enhance assessment performance and ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes across the board.