The country’s education department, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 that its subsidy for students covered by the Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) outside Metro Manila increase this School Year 2014-2015.
According to DepEd, the subsidy of deserving students from P6,500 last year has increased to P7,500 per student per year in various participating schools outside Metro Manila as confirmed by DedEd Secretary Armin Luistro.
The subsidy which is known as the Education Service Contracting, (ESC) is a scheme under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) wherein the Philippine government subsidizes the tuition fee of students who want to pursue secondary schooling in private schools.
The GASTPE program is jointly implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE). According to DepEd’s record, through the ESC, the government will subsidize almost one million students from Grade 7 to 10 for school year 2014-2015. Last year DepEd covered more than 800,000 students.
DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro noted that the ESC is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to maintain the viability of private education as a key partner in the delivery of quality basic education to the Filipino learners, Luistro added.
View the Official Announcement of DepEd via the Official Gazette.