A Palace official on Sunday has assured that the implementation of the senior high school program will be subsidized by the government.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he was informed by Education Secretary Armin Luisto that the government subsidy is through the voucher system.
“The senior high school program, which will be offered this year, will include a government subsidy through the voucher system. Around 90 percent of all grade 11 enrollees in private schools, SUCs and LUCs will be voucher beneficiaries,” Coloma said.
“Of course, those that will enroll in the SH program in public schools will not need to pay any fees,” said Coloma quoting the Education secretary during a radio interview over Radyo ng Bayan.
He said the objections of parents to the program was mainly because they did not have information or misunderstood the policy.
“Such concerns may have arisen from lack of information on and understanding of the policies and processes put in place by government to ensure a smooth transition into and full implementation of the K to 12 program, particularly on the inception of a senior high school program that will add two years, grades 11 and 12 to the free universal basic education program as mandated by the Constitution,” explained Coloma.
Coloma said the Department of Education has allocated a budget of around P12 billion to ensure that all Grade 10 graduates would be able to enter the senior high school program.
“According to DepEd Undersecretary Reynaldo Laguda, DepEd allocated enough funds or budget with approximately P12 billion for 1.5-million students, 1.5-million students who will be entering the senior high school program. The DepEd assured all who finished grade 10 will be able to enter the Senior High School program,” Coloma said.
Students, parents, teachers and various groups launched on Friday a petition against the government’s K-to-12 program with parents complaining that they are not sure to enroll their kids in June because of the absence of tuition vouchers for all prospective Grade 11 entrants.
“The Department of Education is useless because it has failed to properly implement the K-12 senior high school,” said parent Obeth Montes, convenor of the Parents’ Movement Against K-12, as protesters angrily banged the gates of the DepEd main offices in Pasig City.