THE DEPARTMENT of Education has committed to eliminating irregularities in the Senior High School Voucher Program after removing 55 schools due to discrepancies, inconsistencies, and issues related to ghost students.

The irregularities were uncovered through DepEd’s monitoring and verification process, prompting the agency to take action against non-compliant institutions.

During a hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, DepEd Project Manager-3 Atty. Tara Rama reported that, in the 2021-2022 school year, 22 schools were delisted from the program. The number increased to 32 schools in the 2022-2023 school year.

These removals were due to various violations that impacted the integrity of the voucher system.

For the 2023-2024 school year, only one school was found to have anomalies, suggesting a potential improvement in monitoring efforts. However, 12 schools are under investigation for possible violations in the current school year.

DepEd continues to scrutinize the program to ensure that only eligible institutions and students benefit from the vouchers.

Atty. Rama clarified that not all cases of delisting were due to ghost students. Some schools were removed because discrepancies in their submitted data did not match DepEd’s records.

The agency emphasized its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the program’s implementation.

To strengthen its verification process, DepEd now cross-checks all billing statements submitted by private schools through the Learning Information System. This measure helps detect inconsistencies before payments are made, preventing potential misuse of government funds.

Rama also revealed that in the 2023-2024 school year, DepEd withheld approximately ₱200 million worth of vouchers due to data mismatches. This move underscores the agency’s commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that only legitimate beneficiaries receive financial assistance under the Senior High School Voucher Program.