DepEd readies P12 B for SHS voucher program

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated P12.18 billion for the implementation of the Senior High School (SHS) Program, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

School vouchers are government- funded scholarships for students to attend private school when they can no longer be accommodated in public schools.

At least 7,000 students in Eastern Visayas who cannot be accommodated in public schools will avail themselves of the voucher program come June.

The SHS offers four tracks to incoming students – Academic, Technical- Vocational- Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design – which Luistro said are designed to help learners prepare for higher education, employment or entrepreneurship.

DepEd provincial offices are ensuring that “no child shall be left behind.”

Data showed at least 1.2 – 1.6 million students are expected to enrol in Grade 11.

Meanwhile, 68,447 students in Eastern Visayas enrolled during the 60-day countdown before Grade 11 classes start on June 6.

The DepEd has assured the public that all schools nationwide are ready for the full implementation of the SHS Program, which will officially start in June.

Luisa Yu, DepEd regional head, said they are expecting more enrollees before the opening of classes.

The region is in need of 1,854 teachers under the K - 12 program.

“For Teacher I, 305 are needed; Teacher II, 1,243; Teacher III, 222, while 84 for Master 1 and Master 2 teachers are urgently to be hired for SHS Grade 11,” Yu added.

DepEd officials gave assurance that there will be no classroom shortage even in areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda, saying that 65 classrooms have been completed while construction of 266 classrooms is ongoing.

Three-story school buildings will be constructed in some relocation areas to accommodate hundreds of students.

At least 8,000 public and private schools are ready to offer Grades 11 and 12.