THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) yesterday welcomed efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) to uncover and stop fraudulent activities involving alleged “ghost students” under the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP).
The TDC said the discovery of the irregularities underscores the need for stronger transparency and accountability measures in the implementation of the program.
It likewise called on Congress to launch a comprehensive investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that necessary policy reforms are enacted to prevent similar abuses in the future.
“The fact that this malpractice has persisted for nearly a decade raises serious concerns about the oversight mechanisms governing the program. Immediate corrective actions must be taken to protect public funds and guarantee that every single cent allocated to education genuinely benefits deserving students,” the TDC said.
“While we acknowledge the complementary role of private schools in the country’s education system, we reiterate our long-standing position that public resources should be prioritized for strengthening the public school system,” it said.
It added that “instead of heavily relying on subsidy programs that are vulnerable to abuse, the government must ensure adequate funding for public schools – expanding facilities, providing materials, hiring more teachers, and improving the quality of instruction.” “Investing directly in public education will not only minimize corruption and inefficiencies but will also provide long-term benefits by ensuring free, accessible and quality education for all Filipino learners,” the TDC said.
