‘Defective’ DepEd program grants P8 billion education subsidies to non-poor students, says Sen. Gatchalian | ABS-CBN
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‘Defective’ DepEd program grants P8 billion education subsidies to non-poor students, says Sen. Gatchalian
MANILA -- Around P8 billion worth of government’s education subsidies, meant to benefit underprivileged students, had been granted to non-poor learners who enrolled in private schools, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed on Wednesday.
MANILA -- Around P8 billion worth of government’s education subsidies, meant to benefit underprivileged students, had been granted to non-poor learners who enrolled in private schools, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed on Wednesday.
Gatchalian, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said there were “unclear guidelines” in the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) that resulted in non-poor students availing of the education subsidies.
Gatchalian, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said there were “unclear guidelines” in the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) that resulted in non-poor students availing of the education subsidies.
GASTPE is intended to decongest public schools by subsidizing the tuition fee of students who apply to private schools, Gatchalian said.
GASTPE is intended to decongest public schools by subsidizing the tuition fee of students who apply to private schools, Gatchalian said.
“Kung ikaw private school bibigyan kita let us say 40 slots, kung walang nag-apply kahit sino na kunin mo, kasi may allotment na siya,” Gatchalian said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
“Kung ikaw private school bibigyan kita let us say 40 slots, kung walang nag-apply kahit sino na kunin mo, kasi may allotment na siya,” Gatchalian said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
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(If you are a private school, I will give you, let's say, 40 slots. If no one applies, you can take anyone because there's already an allotment for you.)
(If you are a private school, I will give you, let's say, 40 slots. If no one applies, you can take anyone because there's already an allotment for you.)
“So, ang nangyayari nabigyan ka na ng allotment at walang naga-apply na mahirap...ang nag-apply nalang ay iyong non-poor. And then the subsidy they used it as a discount,” he added.
“So, ang nangyayari nabigyan ka na ng allotment at walang naga-apply na mahirap...ang nag-apply nalang ay iyong non-poor. And then the subsidy they used it as a discount,” he added.
(So, what happens is you've been given an allotment and no poor person applies, only the non-poor apply.)
(So, what happens is you've been given an allotment and no poor person applies, only the non-poor apply.)
“The program is defective," Gatchalian said, estimating that almost P8 billion went to non-poor students.
“The program is defective," Gatchalian said, estimating that almost P8 billion went to non-poor students.
The GASTPE program is given an annual budget of P35 billion pesos, says Gatchalian.
The GASTPE program is given an annual budget of P35 billion pesos, says Gatchalian.
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Since it came from public funds, the senator believes that equity should be observed, and the poor should be prioritized.
Since it came from public funds, the senator believes that equity should be observed, and the poor should be prioritized.
Asked if this could be considered as malversation of public funds, Gatchalian said, the problem lies in the lack of clarity in the guidelines.
Asked if this could be considered as malversation of public funds, Gatchalian said, the problem lies in the lack of clarity in the guidelines.
“In the guidelines, it didn’t specify to prioritize the poor. So that is why, in fairness to the implementors, especially the private schools, since it was not specified there, they were taking in students,” he explained.
“In the guidelines, it didn’t specify to prioritize the poor. So that is why, in fairness to the implementors, especially the private schools, since it was not specified there, they were taking in students,” he explained.
Gatchalian said DepEd has committed to revising its department order to make sure that poor students receive the said education subsidies.
Gatchalian said DepEd has committed to revising its department order to make sure that poor students receive the said education subsidies.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, meanwhile, said that it is the Government Assistance and Subsidies Office (GASO) of the department that now handles the revision of the guidelines.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, meanwhile, said that it is the Government Assistance and Subsidies Office (GASO) of the department that now handles the revision of the guidelines.
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