“The Philippine public school system has long struggled with overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and inconsistent educational quality”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the creation of a new Cabinet cluster focused on education, as announced by Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
This cluster includes the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Budget and Management.
The cluster, tasked with developing a 10-year national plan to address the country’s learning gaps, aims to implement coordinated interventions to improve access, quality, and relevance of education in the Philippines.
By bringing together key stakeholders, the government intends to address the deep-rooted challenges in the education system through integrated efforts that optimize resources and foster collaborative decision-making on pressing issues.
The need for such an initiative is underscored by the poor performance of the Philippines in the latest Program for International Student Assessment study, which reflects a decades-long learning crisis. Experts argue an integrated approach, supported by all sectors of society, is necessary to pursue a strategic education roadmap that remains consistent regardless of political cycles.
While the 10-year timeline for this plan is considered realistic, there is also a more immediate solution that the government can act on to see quicker results: expanding the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program to cover the K-6 levels.
The Philippine public school system has long struggled with overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and inconsistent educational quality.
Expanding the GASTPE program, which currently supports junior and senior high school students, to include Kindergarten through Grade 6 is seen as a viable and immediate solution to these issues.
Historically, GASTPE has helped alleviate pressure on the public education system by enabling private schools to absorb excess students from overcrowded public institutions.
From 2018 to 2022, the program served 28 million students and improved educational outcomes by providing subsidies that allowed students to attend private schools, thus reducing the negative impacts of overcrowded classrooms.
Expanding GASTPE to include elementary levels is a logical step, particularly in high-population urban areas where public schools are struggling to keep up with growing student numbers.
Many private schools operate with excess capacity, especially in elementary grades, and extending GASTPE would immediately relieve overcrowding in public schools by subsidizing deserving public students to attend private institutions.
This would not only provide a more conducive learning environment for these students but also reduce the pressure on the government to build new classrooms.
Furthermore, expanding GASTPE is about more than just logistics; it offers an opportunity for more students to experience the higher quality of education in private schools.
According to the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics National Report, private schools consistently deliver better education compared to public schools, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics.
By allowing more students to access these conducive educational environments through an expanded GASTPE program, the government would be investing in the future success of its students and the skilling of the country’s future workforce.
The long-term benefits of this expansion are significant.
Quality education at the elementary level lays the foundation for future academic and professional success.
Students who develop strong literacy and numeracy skills early in their education are better prepared for future challenges and opportunities, leading to a more capable workforce essential for the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
A better-educated population also contributes to national progress in various dimensions, from reduced poverty rates to increased productivity and inclusive prosperity.
Concerns about the financial implications of expanding GASTPE are understandable, but the reality is that the government cannot keep up with the growing student population using public resources alone.
Expanding GASTPE leverages existing private sector resources, allowing the government to maximize the impact of its education budget.
The program’s track record shows that it is a prudent use of public funds, yielding significant returns in improved educational outcomes and reduced strain on the public school system.
The Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), which administers the GASTPE program, has long advocated for this expansion.
Their research suggests that nearly 900,000 additional students could be accommodated across both public and private schools if resources were reallocated and optimized.
PEAC also recommends increasing the subsidy amounts for junior and senior high school students under GASTPE, as current levels do not fully cover the costs of private school tuition, especially in urban areas where education costs are higher.
Expanding GASTPE to include Kinder to Grade 6 is a forward-thinking approach that addresses the immediate needs of the Philippine education system while laying the groundwork for long-term improvements.
The program’s successful track record demonstrates that effective collaboration between the public and private sectors can profoundly benefit millions of students.
As the country navigates the complexities of providing quality education to all citizens, legislators should prioritize increasing the budget allocation for GASTPE as a practical, cost-effective, and impactful solution that will benefit a broad nationwide constituency.
