DepEd: P65M recovered from 54 schools after voucher probe

• DepEd says it has recovered P65 million from private schools linked to alleged anomalies in the Senior High School Voucher Program claims, with 38 schools having “fully refunded the government.”
• Education Secretary Sonny Angara said demand letters were sent to 54 schools terminated from the program to return the voucher claims for school years (SY) 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
• The SHS voucher program is a government subsidy program for qualified senior high school students in Grades 11 and 12. The vouchers, ranging from P8,750 to P22,500 per year, are paid directly to the student’s preferred private school.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully recovered P65 million from private schools linked to alleged anomalies in the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program claims, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Wednesday.

Angara said demand letters were sent to 54 schools terminated from the program to return the voucher claims for school years (SY) 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

He said 38 schools have “fully refunded the government” while two only made partial refunds amounting to P65 million. Fourteen schools have yet to return the funds. He did not say how much was recovered from each school.

“[F]inal demand letters will be issued to ensure compliance,” Angara said in a statement, adding that further investigation will be initiated “to determine these financial irregularities constitute fraud.”

Questionable claims

The SHS voucher program is a government subsidy program for qualified senior high school students in Grades 11 and 12. The vouchers, ranging from P8,750 to P22,500 per year, are paid directly to the student’s preferred private school.

Angara disclosed in February that 12 private schools participating in the SHS voucher program had “questionable claims,” prompting them to stop the payments and conduct an investigation.

He described this as a “potential defraudment,” noting that the vouchers being requested by the 12 private schools amounted to over P52 million.

In a statement to the Inquirer, Angara explained that the funds were recovered through demand letters.

“The refunds were then processed and returned by schools to DepEd through bank checks,” he said.

Stricter validation process

The education secretary also said no refunds were necessary for SY 2023-2024 since no payments have been released to private schools “with questionable claims due to stricter validation process.”

“Upon receiving the billing statements from the schools, DepEd validates it with the LIS (Learner Information System) and [when] there is a mismatch, DepEd [will] not release any payments,” Angara said.

Twelve schools, however, are still under investigation for SY 2023-2024, he said.

He added that three schools flagged by the Government Assistance and Subsidies Service have been forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Angara has recently tapped the NBI for an “independent investigation” into the alleged irregularities and vowed to pursue all legal and administrative actions necessary.

Actions taken

Angara said the DepEd had already implemented actions that would “enhance oversight and accountability” for SY 2024-2025 in coordination with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC).

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He added that they will conduct a “100-percent system audit” and random field visits to private schools participating in the program.

“DepEd’s regional and schools division offices have been mobilized to carry out inspections and submit detailed reports to the Central Office,” he noted.

“Tightening of the validation processes have likewise been implemented to ensure that only eligible learners benefit from the program,” he said.

Angara also disclosed that “further measures” will be implemented “in the coming months,” including PEAC’s validation for the second semester to be rolled out next month.