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Millions Recovered, but Questions Linger—Will Erring Schools Face Justice?
The Department of Education (DepEd) has made significant progress in recovering misused public funds from private schools involved in questionable claims under the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP). As of today, approximately ₱65 million has been reclaimed from 54 private schools flagged for irregularities spanning School Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
While 38 schools have fully refunded the government and two have made partial repayments, 14 schools remain non-compliant. DepEd has vowed to take decisive action, issuing final demand letters to ensure every peso is returned.
A Deeper Investigation: Is Fraud at Play?
The fight for financial accountability is far from over. DepEd has admitted that the extent of the irregularities demands further investigation to determine whether fraudulent intent was involved. The repercussions could be severe, not just for the implicated schools but for the entire private education sector, which heavily relies on government subsidies.
Meanwhile, the scrutiny continues for School Year 2023-2024, with 12 more schools currently under investigation. In an unprecedented move, three of these cases have been elevated to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for a parallel probe, signaling that DepEd is prepared to escalate matters to the highest levels of law enforcement.
Stronger Oversight: A New Era for SHS Voucher Implementation
Determined to prevent a repeat of these alarming lapses, DepEd is rolling out major reforms to tighten its oversight mechanisms for School Year 2024-2025 and beyond. In coordination with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), DepEd has launched:
Comprehensive system audits and random field visits to private schools
Stricter cross-referencing and validation of claims to ensure only eligible students benefit
Stronger coordination with regional and schools division offices for in-depth monitoring
Enhanced digital safeguards under the Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS), including an audit trail, automated notifications for system changes, and a full history of learner records
According to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, these measures 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.”
Beyond Financial Oversight: A System-Wide Overhaul
DepEd’s response goes beyond financial regulation. The Private Education Office (PEO) is leading efforts to tighten SHS recognition rules, ensuring that private schools remain compliant with government regulations. Additionally, DepEd is setting up a new billing schedule for School Year 2025-2026 to make the disbursement process more efficient and transparent.
With DepEd’s reforms in full swing, private schools are now under intense scrutiny, and the message is clear—the days of abusing government subsidies are over.
The Road Ahead: Will Accountability Prevail?
While DepEd’s efforts to recover funds and tighten oversight mark a major step forward, the looming question remains: Will the remaining non-compliant schools be forced to return the money, and will those responsible face legal consequences?
With ₱65 million already recovered and cases now reaching the NBI, the fight for integrity in education funding is heating up. DepEd has made its stance clear—it will not hesitate to hold erring institutions accountable. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether these efforts translate into real, lasting reform—or if history will repeat itself once again.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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