The Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU) has called on the government to expand the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program to help alleviate overcrowding in public schools.

“Through GASTPE, countless students, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, have been able to access the transformative power of a Christian education,” ACSCU President and Silliman University President Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann said in a statement.

ACSCU reaffirmed its commitment to the GASTPE program, emphasizing that it has enabled its member institutions to deliver accessible, quality education to students for over 35 years.

“We are partners in progress,” Cernol-McCann said. “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.

Serving thousands of beneficiaries

The GASTPE program, which covers both junior and senior high schools, aims to provide financial assistance to students and teachers, enhance access to quality education, and ease overcrowding in public schools.

Cernol-McCann noted that in School Year (SY) 2023–2024, ACSCU-member schools collectively served over 3,600 beneficiaries under the program.

“This level of support is not only a testament to the program’s reach but also to its impact,” she said.

“Many of our graduates, who were once GASTPE beneficiaries, have gone on to become leaders in their communities and industries,” Cernol-McCann added. “Their successes speak to the quality of education they received and the opportunities made possible by GASTPE.”

The GASTPE program includes various initiatives such as Education Service Contracting (ESC), Teachers’ Salary Subsidy, the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP), and In-Service Training (INSET).

The ESC program, in particular, is seen as a cost-effective alternative to public school expansion. It helps address overcrowding by partnering with private schools to accommodate overflow students from public schools or in areas without public school facilities.

Cernol-McCann highlighted that GASTPE has also provided significant support to teachers and educational staff. “Financial resources have facilitated training and development programs, ensuring that our educators can continually adapt to evolving educational needs,” she said.

She added that this assistance was particularly crucial during the pandemic, when GASTPE funding enabled schools to 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 noted.

Reaching more students

Cernol-McCann emphasized that ACSCU’s partnership with GASTPE has enhanced the educational journeys of thousands of students across the country, preparing them for meaningful futures.

To date, ACSCU has 118 member schools nationwide. Since 1989, it has served 12.45 million student-grantees.

“As we look to the future, ACSCU envisions an expanded GASTPE that reaches even more students, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” Cernol-McCann said.

To achieve this vision, she underscored the importance of sustained government partnership and strengthened collaboration with private and public educational stakeholders.

“By working together, we can make GASTPE more responsive to the shifting educational landscape and ensure that the program continues to support not only students and teachers but also the broader mission of Christian education in national development,” she concluded.