The DepEd removes schools from SHS voucher program following allegations of ghost students or nonexistent enrollees in multiple institutions.
Department of Education (DepEd) Project Manager III Tara Rama confirmed that 55 schools have been delisted due to these issues.
During a House Committee on Basic Education and Culture hearing on March 6, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel inquired about the exact number of alleged ghost students.
Rama revealed that 22 schools were removed from the program in the 2021-2022 school year, 32 in 2022-2023, and one in 2023-2024, while 12 others remain under investigation.
When asked how many vouchers were allocated to the delisted schools, Rama clarified that DepEd withheld P200 million worth of vouchers after identifying discrepancies.
She further explained that not all cases involved ghost students, as some students may have transferred to private schools before returning to public institutions due to unforeseen issues.
The SHS voucher program was launched in 2015 to improve access to senior high school education for underprivileged students and ease overcrowding in public schools.
Voucher grantees receive financial aid ranging from P14,000 to P22,500, depending on their location.