DepEd to accept new applications for senior high voucher program

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) will re-open the application process for the senior high school voucher program next week. 

New applications for the program, which will provide subsidy to Grade 11 and 12 students in private schools, will be accepted from April 22 to May 6. 

DepEd said the application would be open to students who finished junior high school (Grade 10) in private schools in the last school year. 

All public school Grade 10 completers and all private school Grade 10 completers who are grantees of the Education Service Contracting (ESC) are automatically qualified as voucher recipients. 

“These students do not need to apply for vouchers,” said DepEd. 

The agency said more than 50,000 non-ESC private school Grade 10 completers have already been awarded vouchers following the first application process held earlier this year. 

“The application will be re-opened to enable more Grade 10 completers to have the option to enroll in senior high schools in private schools, private universities and colleges, local or state universities and colleges or technical vocational institutions in June 2016,” said DepEd. 

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Voucher Application Portal of the Private Education Assistance Committee at http://ovap.deped.gov.ph.

The government has allotted some P12 billion to provide students with a subsidy and enable them to get a discount on the cost of tuition and other school fees at private schools offering the senior high school program.