ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (PPAB)

House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said prior consultations should have taken place before the discontinuation of financial assistance to Senior High School (SHS) students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs). 

"Sana nagkaroon ng konsultasyon sa mga students, parents and teachers kasi apektado sila dito. Sa mga estudyante at magulang kasi mawawalan sila ng ayuda at makikipagsiksikan sa mga public high schools. Sa mga teachers din na maaring in limbo ang kanilang load at trabaho dahil dito," Castro said in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 4. 

(There should have been a consultation with the students, parents, and teachers because they are affected by this. For students and parents, because they will lose aid and will crowd into public high schools. To the teachers as well, their load and work may be in limbo because of this.) 

In its Memorandum Order (MO) dated Dec. 18, 2023, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) said that there should be no more Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GATSPE) beneficiaries from the SUCs and LUCs starting School Year (SY) 2023-2024. 

The only exception covers those entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to finish their basic education “and that the SUCs and LUCs with laboratory school can accept enrollees but will no longer receive vouchers”. 

Furthermore, CHEd said that the SHS program will be discontinued in the SUCs and LUCs as it should only be offered during the transition period of the K to 12 program, covering 2016 to 2021. 

"Sa sinasabi ng DepEd at CHEd na dapat na 5 taon lang ang programang ito ay dapat na lalo nilang napaghandaan ang konsultasyon para dito hindi yung bigla na lang na maglalabas na lang agad ng memo na libu-libo ang apektado," said Castro. 

(Since DepEd and CHEd are saying that this program should only last for five years, they should have prepared more for the consultation, instead of suddenly issuing a memo where thousands are affected.) 

"The implementation of these memos should be held in abeyance after a thorough consultation have been done with all of the stakeholders and that their welfare especially the students and teachers are ensured," the lawmaker stressed.