House Bill to expand education access for private school students and teachers

The House of Representatives aimed the expansion of the coverage of private basic education voucher beneficiaries to include all years of basic education, from kindergarten to senior high school, on its third and final reading on Oct. 13, under the Private Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act.

During the session of the House plenary, 287 voted in favor of passing House Bill 4744, three voted against it, and two abstained.

Authored by EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo, House Bill No. 11214 introduces a comprehensive voucher system aimed at aiding vulnerable and underprivileged students.

Whereas the voucher assistance shall be provided to students from middle-income families, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority, who attended public schools identified by the Department of Education (DepEd) as congested or those living in areas with congested public schools or without a nearby public school, who wish to enroll in private basic education schools.

Further the bill seeks to repeal and replace various sections of Republic Act No. 8545, also known as the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, which itself amended the earlier Republic Act No. 6728.

To further strengthen the framework, House Bill No. 11214 establishes the Bureau of Private Education under the DepEd, tasked with overseeing the implementation and regulation of the voucher program, ensuring that participating institutions adhere to the required standards of quality and efficiency. 

The budget for the program shall be equitably allocated and distributed among all regions, based on official data sources, including the P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 under House Bill 4058, with realignments that increased allocations to the education sector to an unprecedented P1.28 trillion.

Schools participating in the program will be required to allocate a significant portion of any tuition increases to salary improvements for teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as to the enhancement of educational facilities.

Rep. Romulo proposed the bill not only to improve access to quality education but also to solve every challenge faced in the public school sector, such as classroom congestion and resource strain.

“Expanding GASTPE is a step in alleviating congestion in our schools. By extending the voucher program to encompass kindergarten and elementary students, we are not only broadening access to educational opportunities but also reducing overcrowding in public schools, ensuring a more conducive learning environment for all,” said EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson and Author Rep. Roman Romulo.