SENATOR Loren Legarda welcomed the bicameral conference committee’s approval of the proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act, saying the measure would help decongest overcrowded public classrooms and expand Filipino students’ access to quality education.

The reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1981 and House Bill No. 4744 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act.

The measure institutionalizes a unified private education voucher system that would allow more students to enroll in participating private schools, easing congestion in public schools and improving learning conditions.

A co-author and co-sponsor of the bill, Legarda described the measure as a landmark education reform that promotes equitable access to quality education while strengthening support for learners, teachers, and schools.

She said the proposal comes at a critical time, as overcrowded classrooms and high student-to-teacher ratios continue to undermine learning, limit classroom interaction, and affect children’s social development.

The senator also noted that recent incidents of school violence have underscored the need for learning environments where teachers can provide closer supervision and guidance to students.

By reducing overcrowding in public schools and expanding access to private schools through the voucher program, Legarda said classrooms could become safer, more supportive, and more conducive to learning.

“By expanding access to private education through the voucher system, students who would otherwise be crowded into overstretched public schools gain additional opportunities to learn in less congested, more supportive environments,” Legarda said.

She emphasized that private schools remain indispensable partners in the country’s education system by accommodating more learners, easing pressure on public schools, and enabling teachers to focus more effectively on instruction.

Legarda added that reducing classroom congestion could improve student retention, lower dropout rates, and raise the overall quality of education.

“Every child, regardless of background, deserves the dignity of quality education. This measure invests in our learners’ future by ensuring that no child is forced by circumstance to learn in overcrowded classrooms,” she said.

The proposed law also introduces stronger accountability measures for participating private schools, including mandatory quality assurance, participation in national assessments, and the publication of school performance data.

In addition, private school teachers covered by the program would receive in-service training opportunities, salary subsidies, and graduate scholarship assistance to further improve teaching quality.

Legarda underscored that education remains “the nation’s greatest equalizer,” saying the expanded voucher program would improve learning outcomes while maximizing government resources for education.