THE Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) yesterday called on the government to expand the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) initiative to help address overcapacity in public schools in the country.
ACSCU President and Silliman University President Betty Cernol-McCann said the initiative has empowered its member institutions to provide accessible and quality education to students for the past 35 years.
“Through GASTPE, countless students, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, have been able to access the transformative power of a Christian education,” Cernol-McCann said in a statement.
“We are partners in progress. With its critical role in sustaining private Christian education in the Philippines, GASTPE aligns with our mission to serve with compassion and integrity,” she added.
The GASTPE program, which currently covers junior high school and senior high school, seeks to provide financial assistance to students and teachers, improve access to quality education, and decongest public schools.
Cernol-McCann said last year, ACSCU member schools served over 3,600 beneficiaries under the GASTPE program.
GASTPE initiatives include Education Service Contracting (ESC), Teachers’ Salary Subsidy, Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP), and In-Service Training (INSET).
The ESC is a cost-effective alternative to public school expansion, where decongestion is achieved through service contracts with private schools for the latter to accommodate overflow students from public schools and communities with no public schools.
On the other hand, the SHSVP is a GASTPE program wherein financial assistance in tuition subsidies is extended to qualified public and private Grade 10 completers enabling them to enroll for SHS – Grades 11 and 12 – in private schools.
“The GASTPE program has also provided significant support to our teachers and educational staff. Financial resources have facilitated training and development programs, ensuring that our educators can continually adapt to evolving educational needs,” Cernol-McCann added.
This assistance was most pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic when GASTPE funding helped schools transition to blended and distance learning models.
“This allowed us to continue providing a safe, high-quality education to our students during a time of crisis,” Cernol-McCann further.
ACSCU has 118 member schools across the country, which have served 12.45 million student grants since 1989.
Earlier, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) urged lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) to ensure a more sustainable solution to classroom congestion in public schools.
There are several bills in the House of Representatives seeking to enhance and broaden the voucher system encompassing 13 years of basic education, and offering support to students, teachers, and formal private basic education institutions.
