1M gov’t scholars in private schools

Education Secretary Armin Luistro.  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

To “democratize access to quality education” in the country, the Department of Education has increased the number of slots and the subsidies in a program intended for students who want to pursue secondary schooling in private schools.

In a statement, DepEd said it would subsidize almost one million students from Grades 7 to 10 for school year 2014-2015 under the Education Service Contracting (ESC) program.

The DepEd said last year, it offered around 800,000 slots under the ESC, which is enforced under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education initiative.

“ESC is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to maintain the viability of private education as a key partner in the delivery of quality basic education to the Filipino learners,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

According to the DepEd, the subsidy of a student under the ESC is now P7,500 yearly in participating schools outside Metro Manila for the school year 2014-2015.

The amount, it said, was also an increase from the P6,500 subsidy of a student covered by the program last year.

“Our mandate is to provide every Filipino child with access to quality education. The decision to increase the tuition subsidy under the (ESC) is part of our continuing thrust to democratize access to quality education across the country,” Luistro said.

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