55 Schools Were Removed from the SHS Voucher Program of DepEd
GHOST STUDENTS – The Department of Education (DepEd) has removed 55 schools from the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program following allegations that these institutions reported ghost or non-existent students to receive government funding.
This issue surfaced during a House Committee on Basic Education and Culture hearing on March 6, where Kabataan Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel raised concerns about the prevalence of ghost students in the program. DepEd Project Manager III Tara Rama confirmed that investigations had led to multiple school removals over the past three academic years. Specifically, 22 schools were removed in School Year (SY) 2021-2022, 32 in SY 2022-2023, and one in SY 2023-2024. Additionally, 12 schools remain under investigation for similar irregularities.
When asked about the number of vouchers allocated to these schools, Rama stated that DepEd withheld ₱200 million in voucher payments upon discovering the anomalies. This action aimed to prevent the misuse of public funds and ensure that only legitimate students benefit from the program.
However, Rama clarified that not all flagged cases should be considered fraudulent. Some students may have initially enrolled in private schools under the voucher program but later transferred to public schools due to financial difficulties or other personal reasons. These cases require further verification before being classified as ghost students.
The SHS Voucher Program was launched in 2015 to provide financial assistance to underprivileged students and help ease overcrowding in public schools. Beneficiaries receive financial support ranging from ₱14,000 to ₱22,500 per student.
Meanwhile, DepEd stands for the Department of Education in the Philippines. It is the government agency responsible for regulating and managing the country’s basic education system, which includes elementary, secondary, and senior high school levels. DepEd oversees public and private schools, implements educational policies, and ensures access to quality education for Filipino students.
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