Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

DepEd

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767591214188175688337663320250206-department-education-deped-JC-8.webp" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Education is seen at its headquarters in Pasig City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Commission on Audit (COA) on Monday called out the Department of Education (DepEd) for including “ghost students,” ineligible beneficiaries, and students from prestigious high-tuition private schools under its Senior High School Voucher Program for school years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/deped-files-raps-vs-7-schools-over-ghost-beneficiaries-in-voucher-program-1616">DepEd files raps vs 7 schools over &#x27;ghost&#x27; beneficiaries in voucher program</a></div><p>In its latest audit report, state auditors cited several cases where several Voucher Program Beneficiaries (VPBs) were absent during monitoring visits without satisfactory explanation from school officials.</p><p>The COA also reported instances where VPBs were billed under a specific school campus, unit, or delivery mode but attended classes elsewhere.</p><p>Moreover, the commission found cases in which VPBs listed as enrolled had not attended classes since the start of the semester.</p><p>Auditors further revealed that some VPBs were listed multiple times in the same school or in different Voucher Program-participating schools.</p><p>The audit body also reported cases of double billing or multiple entries for the same VPBs, which resulted in P868,500 worth of overpayments.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/22-other-schools-under-investigation-over-ghost-students-0725">22 other schools under investigation over &#x27;ghost students&#x27;</a></div><p>“Specifically, a total of 39 VPBs bearing identical names but assigned different LRNs (learner reference number), and 722 VPBs with identical names and LRN, were found to have been listed and billed more than once in the same school year either within the same school or across different VP-participating SHS,” the report read.</p><p>“These lapses not only compromise the integrity of the program but may result in the misallocation of public funds intended primarily to support underprivileged learners,” it added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VALIDATION LAPSES</strong></div><p>The commission noted that DepEd’s use of the Learner Information System for validation began only recently, even after similar issues had been flagged for years.</p><p>&quot;The recurrence of similar deficiencies strongly suggests that a significant number of such cases may have gone undetected in the previous years in the absence of adequate documentary requirements to facilitate thorough verification,&quot; the report read.</p><p>It said the absence of an independent validation mechanism risks “heightened oversight lapses” if DepEd continues depending on PEAC for both billing and post-billing.</p><p>&quot;Entrusting the same entity with post-billing audit responsibilities may compromise the independence and objectivity of the validation process,&quot; COA said.</p><p>It added that the lack of clear eligibility criteria allowed 3,356 senior high school students to receive P62.9 million in vouchers for SY 2023-2024 despite attending high-tuition private schools charging up to P317,000 per year.</p><p>&quot;While the program&#x27;s objective does not intend to exclude or discriminate against any learner–-given that equal enjoyment of rights and privileges is constitutionally guaranteed–-the law mandates that preference be given to underprivileged students,&quot; the audit body said.</p><p>To address these issues, DepEd agreed with the commission’s recommendation to establish clear eligibility rules based on family income and other indicators of financial capacity or socio-economic status to ensure public funds reach underprivileged students.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgZkmoeC63A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Commission on Audit has called out DepEd for including “ghost students,” ineligible beneficiaries, and students from prestigious high-tuition private schools under its Senior High School Voucher Program for school years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024.</p>

The Commission on Audit has called out DepEd for including “ghost students,” ineligible beneficiaries, and students from prestigious high-tuition private schools under its Senior High School Voucher Program for school years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024.

COA discovers 'ghost,' ineligible students in DepEd SHS voucher program

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COA discovers 'ghost,' ineligible students in DepEd SHS voucher program

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 05, 2026 01:37 PM PHT

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Updated January 05, 2026 05:08 PM PHT

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