THE Department of Education yesterday assured the public that public schools will be able to accommodate senior high school students who might be displaced due to the discontinuance of the program in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).
DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said their data showed there are still around 17,700 Grade 11 students enrolled in SUCs and LUCs this school year.
“Nonetheless, based on the reports of our Regional Directors, our public schools will be able to accommodate those that may be displaced. May mga regions rin po na wala nang SHS learners sa mga SUCs and LUCs so no one will be displaced in these regions,” Poa said.
He said those who will be displaced have two options next school year, namely, to enroll in public schools or private schools and avail of the government’s subsidy program.
Poa said the DepEd is no longer providing vouchers or subsidies for Grade 11 students enrolled in SUCs and LUCs for the current school year.
“The voucher application system no longer accepted Grade 11 applicants in schools tagged as SUCs and LUCs. However, nagbigay pa rin po tayo ng vouchers sa Grade 12 learners in SUCs and LUCs para po makatapos sila,” he explained.
Under DepEd Order No.2023-020 issued in July last year, there would be no more financial assistance to the senior high school program in SUCs and LUCs, except for Grade 12 students enrolled in the current school year.
CHED MEMO
In a memorandum issued last December 18, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero De Vera said SUCs have no more legal authority nor funding to operate senior high school programs.
De Vera said he was compelled to issue the memorandum after his office learned that several SUCs and LUCs were still accommodating senior high school enrollees as of last year, or two years after the end of the transition period.
Memorandum No. 25 issued by CHED in 2016 under the leadership of Chairperson Patricia Licuanan provides for the involvement of SUCs and LUCs in the DepEd’s senior high school program within a 5-year transition period from 2016 to 2021.
De Vera said with the end of the transition period there is no more reason for SUCs and LUCs to offer senior high school programs.
“The charter that created SUCs said they are there to offer higher degree programs. Ang senior high school ay mandato ng DepEd bilang bahagi ito ng basic education program (the senior high school program is part of the mandate of DepEd since it is part of basic education),” De Vera told the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public forum yesterday.
He appealed to SUCs and LUCs still operating senior high school programs to wind down their program.
