THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private Schools Administrators thanked lawmakers for expanding the coverage of subsidies for private schools.

“FAPSA is thankful that House Education Committee Chair Congressmen Roman Romulo and Ruth Hernandez of Laguna really expanded it to where it is needed the most,” FAPSA president Eleazardo Kasilag said in a statement.

“If there is equity, the billions of pesos shall also help non-sectarian private schools to avoid closure. After all, it is the needy and the helpless that need assistance. The amount allotted for GASTPE [Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education] could have saved the 800 private schools that closed last year if administrators learned immediately that this long-time dream could be realized,” Kasilag added.

FAPSA believes that the government, including the Department of Education, is not aware of the billions of pesos appropriated for private schools under Fund for Assistance to Private Education which is only enjoyed exclusively by big affluent private schools in the country.

GASTPE has been expanded before but the beneficiaries were limited to Junior and Senior High School.

“FAPSA since time immemorial has been hurting and drumbeating that Elementary and Pre-schoolers were never part of the assistance when it is the foundation of education. How sad if the academic family feeds only the panganay and intentionally neglects the welfare of the bunso,” Kasilag said.

Kasilag pointed out that the program should not be limited to high school students since around “40 percent” of elementary students have not been able to move up to high school.