SHS voucher program could decongest public schools, EDCOM says

THE Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) on Tuesday called on the Education department to leverage its voucher programs to ease classroom congestion in public schools.

Speaking at a Senate education hearing, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee said that the Department of Education (DepEd) should utilize the voucher program to tap private schools to relieve congested public school classrooms.

“Those schools with congestion and multi-shifts should be prioritized,” he told the Senate panel in mixed English and Filipino.

EDCOM also found that due to the severe classroom shortage, about 2,233 schools facilitate multiple shifts, which divides school days into two or more sessions to accommodate students.

Mr. Yee added that the congestion was most notable in Calabarzon, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas.

“If there are available vouchers, we can prioritize those areas first. We don’t have to give them out all at once,” he added.

The Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education provides financial support to students and teachers in private schools, by offering scholarships, subsidies, and incentives, particularly to disadvantaged students

He said that the Education department must conduct network analysis to identify isolated schools and plan alternative solutions for learners.

EDCOM is also pushing the agency to consider using vouchers to improve access to special education and alternative learning systems for students.

DepEd earlier reported that the country has a shortage of 165,000 classrooms, which it estimates would take 55 years to complete. — Adrian H. Halili