Senior High vouchers stay for Grade 12 only

The Department of Education, or DepEd, on Wednesday said that none of the Senior High School Voucher Program recipients were affected by the discontinuation of the Senior High School program in public universities nationwide.

"For SHS voucher program recipients, no one is affected. This is because, for the current school year, we have no more Grade 11 voucher recipients in SUCs (state universities and colleges) and LUCs (local universities and colleges). The voucher application system no longer accepted Grade 11 applicants in schools tagged as SUCs and LUCs," DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa told reporters in a Viber message.

Poa, however, stressed that Grade 12 learners in public universities were still given vouchers so they could complete their basic education.

"For non-voucher recipients, it appears from our database that around 17,700 Grade 11 learners are enrolled in SUCs and LUCs nationwide this school year," he added.

Poa also said that the public schools will accommodate those who may be displaced.

"There are also regions with no SHS learners in SUCs and LUCs so that no one will be displaced in these regions," he said.

"Those that will be displaced have two options next school year: enroll in public schools, or if they would prefer, they may enroll in private schools and avail of the voucher program," the DepEd official added.

In a memorandum dated 18 December 2023, the Commission on Higher Education, or CHEd, reiterated its decision to discontinue the SHS program in SUCs and LUCs.

CHEd chairperson Prospero de Vera III said the engagement of SUCs and LUCs in basic education through the SHS shall be limited to the K-12 transition period from school year 2016-2017 to school year 2020-2021.

De Vera said DepEd had issued a notice through the Private Education Assistance Committee that beginning the school year 2023-2024, there should be no more Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education beneficiaries in the SUCs and LUCs, except for those who will be entering Grade 12 in the school year. 2023-2024 to finish their primary education and that SUCs and LUCs with laboratory schools can accept enrollees, but they will no longer receive vouchers.

Under the Senior High School Voucher Program, qualified SHS (Grades 11 and 12) learners will receive government financial assistance through vouchers.