Senator Kiko Pangilinan is pushing for the passage of a measure that would establish a Private Basic Education Voucher Program aimed at assisting low- and middle-income learners enrolled in private schools.
Under Senate Bill No. 1841, or the Private Education Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act, Pangilinan seeks to broaden financial aid coverage to underprivileged students from kindergarten to senior high school who are compelled to enroll in private institutions due to overcrowded public schools.
The proposed measure provides that:
- Voucher assistance will be granted to students from middle-income families, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), who attended or reside near congested public schools.
- Vulnerable and underprivileged learners will receive higher voucher amounts, as determined by the Basic Education Assistance Council (BEAC).
- A Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education will be created to oversee implementation and ensure compliance.
- Existing assistance programs will be consolidated into a unified voucher-based system.
The bill also seeks to repeal certain provisions of Republic Act No. 8545, or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, which amended RA 6728.
Pangilinan said the measure would also provide institutional support to participating private schools, including teacher development initiatives and targeted assistance.
“By strengthening public private partnership in basic education, this bill promotes equitable access, more efficient use of public resources, and improved education outcomes,” he noted.
The proposal aims to address classroom congestion in public schools while expanding equitable access to quality education for disadvantaged learners.