The Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday it has recovered funds from 54 private schools following an investigation into irregularities in the Senior High School Voucher Program.

Of the 54 schools removed from the program, 38 have fully refunded the government, while two have made partial refunds as final demand letters will be issued to the remaining 14 schools to ensure compliance.

Approximately P65 million has been recovered to date and the DepEd cited that further investigation is underway to determine if the financial discrepancies constitute fraud.

For the 2023-2024 school year, 12 schools are currently under investigation by the DepEd’s Investigation Division. Additionally, three schools flagged by the Government Assistance and Subsidies Service have been referred to the National Bureau of Investigation for a parallel probe.

'We are taking decisive steps to strengthen our validation processes, hold erring schools accountable, and restore public trust in the SHS Voucher Program.'

To prevent future irregularities, the DepEd, in coordination with the Private Education Assistance Committee, has implemented enhanced oversight and accountability measures starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

These measures include cross-referencing and verification of information, a 100 percent system audit, and random field visits to participating private schools.

DepEd’s regional and schools division offices have been directed to conduct inspections and submit detailed reports to the central office. Validation processes have also been tightened to ensure only eligible students benefit from the program.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said these interventions have already prevented the release of inconsistent or questionable claims.

“We are taking decisive steps to strengthen our validation processes, hold erring schools accountable, and restore public trust in the SHS Voucher Program,” Angara said in a statement.

Further measures are planned for the coming months, including PEAC validation for the second semester next month and a streamlined billing schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.

Beyond financial oversight, the DepEd’s Private Education Office is working on strengthening regulatory compliance for senior high schools. The Information and Communications Technology Service is also enhancing digital safeguards, including audit trails, automated email notifications for system changes, and a complete school history for students.