Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing to expand government assistance to private schools through a uniform voucher system which will include learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Aside from implementing a uniform voucher system in all levels of private basic education, Gatchalian also seeks to ensure that government assistance to private schools will result in the decongestion of overcrowded public schools. “Tutulong tayo sa pribadong paaralan, pero ang benepisyo dapat diretso sa mga estudyanteng higit na nangangailangan,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

His bill also pushes prioritization for learners from low-income households and completers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

By filing the Government Assistance to Private Basic Education Act (Senate Bill No. 364), Gatchalian seeks to address gaps in the current implementation of programs under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), including the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP)  and the Educational Service Contracting (ESC). 

During the 19th Congress, Gatchalian led an inquiry which flagged billions of pesos in leakages for both the SHS-VP and the ESC. The inquiry also raised alarms on the inclusion of ghost students in the SHS-VP. 

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN