The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Guidelines on Eligibility and Application for the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) for School Year (SY) 2021-2022 to provide details on the requirements, procedure, and schedule for voucher application, from qualification to redemption, as well as other information relative to SHS VP application.
These guidelines shall have national applicability, effective for vouchers that will be redeemed in SY 2021-2022.
These guidelines shall remain in effect unless otherwise amended or repealed.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Undersecretary for Finance, Rizal Building, Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at usec.financebpm@deped.gov.ph or GAS-Program Management Office through email at fs.pmo@deped.gov.ph.
Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.
Table of Contents
GUIDELINES ON ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FOR THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM (SHS VP) IN SY 2021-2022
RATIONALE
Republic Act (RA) No. 10533, otherwise known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, lengthened Philippine basic education from ten (10) to thirteen (13) years with the addition of Kindergarten and Grades 11 and 12 in Senior High School (SHS). Grade 11 was introduced in School Year (SY) 2016-2017, Grade 12 in SY 2017-2018.
The 1987 Constitution, particularly Article XIV, Section 1, guarantees the right of every Filipino to accessible and quality basic education, and Article XIV, Section 2.3 mandates the State to establish a system of, among others, subsidies, and incentives to deserving individuals in both public and private schools. RA No. 10533 upholds both said provisions by explicitly expanding the programs of assistance under Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE Law or RA No. 8545 which amends RA No. No. 6728) to extend the benefits accorded by E-GASTPE to qualified learners in Grades II and 12. RA No. 10533 further mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to formulate programs to enact the above-mentioned law based on the principles of public-private partnership.
In this regard, DepEd developed the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP), a program of financial assistance wherein subsidies in the form of vouchers are provided to qualified SHS learners in participating private or non-DepEd public SHSs. DepEd Order (DO) No. Il, s. 2015 provided the policy guidelines on the implementation of SHS VP. The said guidelines categorized the learners into two: those who automatically qualify for SHS VP, and those who shall undergo application, subject to additional guidelines that DepEd will issue for that purpose. This DepEd Order is being issued to provide the guidelines on the application for SHS VP in SY 2021-2022.
SCOPE
These guidelines shall have national applicability, and provide details on the requirements, procedure, and schedule for voucher application, from qualification to redemption, as well as other information relative to SHS VP application. These guidelines shall be effective for vouchers that will be redeemed in SY 2021-2022.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
For purposes of these guidelines, the terms listed below are defined as follows:
This refers to an educational provider not directly operated by DepEd but granted by DepEd with a permit or government recognition to operate SHS. This includes private high schools, private colleges and universities; state universities or colleges (SUCs); local universities or colleges (LUCs); and technical and vocational institutions offering SHS.
This refers to a subsidy given by the State to qualified Grade 10 completers to enable them to enroll in a non-DepEd SHS of their choice. The assistance helps to defray the cost of tuition and other published fees charged by a non-DepEd SHS. The subsidy is not given to the learner as cash; DepEd instead pays directly to the non-DepEd SHS where the learner enrolls.
This refers to a learner who is expected to complete Junior High School (JHS) in formal or Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the end of SY 2020-202′. or had completed Grade 10 not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11.
This refers to a learner who participates in the ESC program, a program of financial assistance by DepEd for learners in certified private JHSs.
This refers to a Grade 10 completer who is eligible to avail of the voucher in SY 2021-2022 because they are either an automatically qualified learner or a QVA.
This refers to a Grade 10 completer who needs to apply to qualify for a voucher.
This refers to a voucher applicant whose application is successful and is thus considered a QVR.
This refers to the act of availing of the voucher by enrolling at a non-DepEd SHS in any of the DepEd-approved learning delivery options.
This refers to a QVR who avails of the voucher through successful voucher redemption.
POLICY STATEMENT
It is a policy of the Department to uphold the right of every Filipino to quality basic education whether through the public provision or through programs and arrangements that are based on the principles of public-private partnership. Consistent with Section 10 of RA No. 10533, DepEd engages the services of private educational institutions and non-DepEd public schools offering senior high school through programs of assistance under E-GASTPE.
One such program of assistance is the SHS VP, which aims to increase access to SHS, and provide greater choice to learners and their families in deciding the SHS program that caters to their needs and career goals. In accordance with Section 22 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 10533, DepEd shall make SHS VP available primarily to Grade 10 completers in public schools but shall also make it available to qualified Grade 10 completers
in private educational institutions, subject to compliance with the qualifications and guidelines provided in this DepEd Order.
The health and safety of voucher applicants and all others who will be involved in the voucher application process are of paramount importance to DepEd, especially given the COVID-19 situation. Thus, SHS VP application shall be conducted in accordance with the IATF recommendations on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utmost consideration shall be extended to applicants without compromising the integrity of the application process and the concomitant SHS VP7 s financial resources.
IMPLEMENTATION ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
DepEd is the institutional owner of the SHS VP. As such, it is the final authority on policy decisions and issues arising from its implementation. DepEd implements the SHS VP in fulfillment of its mandate, and in furtherance of the K to 12 reform agenda of the government. To ensure the program’s success, DepEd develops the necessary policies, provides the necessary resources, and monitors and evaluates indicators relative to the objectives of the SHS VP. It exercises oversight power over PEAC and concerned DepEd offices in their implementation of the program.
The SHS VP is jointly managed by DepEd and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), as provided in the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021. PEAC is the trustee of the Fund for Assistance to Private Education, a perpetual trust fund created to provide assistance to private education in the country. For SHS VP applications, PEAC shall coordinate with DepEd and other stakeholders to ensure that applications are processed, and results are promptly released. PEAC is represented nationally by its National Secretariat (PEAC NS).
Learners and their parents/guardians are responsible for their own voucher applications and choice of Senior High School. They shall ensure that forms are correctly filled, documents are complete, and applications are received by PEAC NS on or before the deadline. They are also responsible for checking the results of their application once the results have been announced. Learners who are QVRs are responsible for redeeming their vouchers within the prescribed redemption period.
Schools shall provide learners and parents with information, guidance, and assistance on the SHS VP and the application process. They must process documents requested by the learners, and may provide career guidance programs, conduct orientations on SHS VP, and provide resources to facilitate voucher applications. Schools shall uphold student choice in the SHS VP and shall not impose their preferences on learners or otherwise engage in practices that undermine student choice.
ELIGIBILITY
Learners who completed JHS in public schools operated by DepEd, and in public or private educational institutions not directly operated by DepEd but granted by DepEd with a permit or government recognition to operate are eligible for SHS VP. Learners who completed Grade 10 as passers of the Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) Test or as passers of the Presentation Portfolio Assessment, and of the Philippine Education Placement Test (PEPT) are also eligible for SHS VP. For brevity, these learners shall be referred to as Grade 10 completers. Grade 10 completers are subdivided into (1) automatically qualified learners, and (2) voucher applicants.
Automatically Qualified Learners
Only Grade 10 completers in SY 2020-2021 who fall under the categories below automatically qualify for vouchers and are considered qualified voucher recipients (QVRs). They do not need to apply for vouchers.
Category A: All Grade 10 completers in Public Schools operated by DepEd
Category B: All Grade 10 completers in SUCs and LUCs
Category C: All Grade 10 completers in private schools who are ESC grantees
Voucher Applicants
Only learners in the categories below need to apply for vouchers and shall be referred to as voucher applicants (VAs). Acceptance of VAs shall be determined using set parameters subject to the availability of funds.
Category D: All Grade 10 completers in private schools in SY 2020-2021 who are not ESC grantees
Category E: All Grade 10 completers who completed Grade 10 prior to SY 2020-2021 but not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11
Category F: Learners who had passed the ALS A&E Test for Grade 10 not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11 or ALS learners who passed or will take the Portfolio Assessment in SY 2021-2022
Category G: Learners who passed the PEPT for Grade 10 not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11 or will take the PEPT in SY 2021-2022
NOTE: The following learners are not eligible for SHS VP:
- Learners who graduated High School in 2015 or earlier
- Incoming Grade 12 learners who were not part of SHS VP in Grade 11
- Non-Filipino learners
The table below may be used for easy reference:
Table 1. Eligibility Guide
| Not eligible | Automatically Qualified Learners (No need to apply) | Voucher Applicants (Need to apply) |
|---|---|---|
| Learners who graduated High School in 2015 or earlier | Category A: Grade 10 completers in DepEd public schools (SY 2020-2021) | Category D: Grade 10 completers in private schools who are not ESC grantees (SY 2020-2021) |
| Incoming Grade 12 learners who were not part of SHS VP in Grade 11 | Category B: Grade 10 completers in SUCs and LUCs (SY 2020-2021) | Category E: Grade 10 completers who completed Grade 10 prior to SY 2020-2021 but not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11 |
| Non-Filipino learners | Category C: Grade 10 completers who are ESC grantees (SY 2020-2021) | Category F: Learners who had passed the ALS A&E Test for Grade 10 not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11 or ALS learners who passed or will take the Presentation Portfolio Assessment in SY 2021-2022 |
| Category G: Learners who passed the PEPT for Grade 10 not earlier than 2016 and had not previously enrolled for Grade 11 or will take the PEPT in SY 2021-2022 |
Voucher Application Procedures
The application will be done online ONLY, free of charge. No manual applications will be accepted. VAs are highly discouraged from submitting multiple applications. All applications shall be coursed through PE AC NS via the Online Voucher Application Portal (OVAP) at http://ovap.peac.org.ph. DepEd shall not accept submissions directly from voucher applicants. Only applications processed and evaluated by PEAC shall be submitted by PEAC to DepEd for approval. The table below enumerates the steps to be taken by voucher applicants.
Online Application
Deadline for creation of accounts on OVAP: September 21, 2021
Deadline for application: September 23, 2021
- Access OVAP at http://ovap.peac.org.ph. Follow the instructions to create an OVAP account. VAs must use a working email address they have access to.
NOTE: An account is not yet an application.
- Wait for a confirmation email that shall be sent to the VA’s email address. Upon receipt of the confirmation email, click on the link provided to access the OVAP as a registered user.
- Complete the electronic Voucher Application Form (VAF-1). VAs may do this in parts but must ensure changes are saved by section.
- Scan or take a picture and upload the following required documents in the OVAP:
a. Recent 2×2 colored ID photo
b. Notarized Affidavit* of occupation and income for ALL that apply: both parents, guardian/s, and other person/s helping send the VA to school, if any
c. Signed Parent Consent Form** for VAs below718 years old at the time of the submission of the application
d. Certificate of Financial Assistance*** received from the JHS, if applicable
- Check the result of application thru OVAP. VAs with successful applications become eligible for the voucher and shall be called Qualified Voucher Applicants (QVAs).
- Download the QVA Certificate from OVAP. The QVA Certificate is required for voucher redemption. QVAs shall submit their QVA Certificate to the SHS they decide to enroll at as proof that they are entitled to the voucher.
*Attached as Annex 1-A and 1-B are the templates for the Affidavit stating the occupation and income of the applicant’s parents or guardian/s, which need to be notarized.
**Attached as Annex 2 is the Parent Consent Form. The Parent Consent Form is required for VAs below 18 years old at the time of the submission of the application.
***Attached as Annex 3 is a template for the Certificate of Financial Assistance.
Tracking the Application, Follow-ups, and Inquiries
It is the responsibility of the VA to ensure that his or her application is complete and correct, and that it is received on or before the deadline. It is likewise the responsibility of the VA to track the status of the application. VAs may check the status of their application by accessing their account on OVAP.
For any and all inquiries on the application process and/or your application, please email the PEAC National Secretariat at shs.vms@peac.org.ph.
Qualification or Disqualification
Grade 10 completers who fall under Categories A, B, and C, as discussed in Section VI. (Eligibility) of these guidelines are QVRs and should not apply. Their applications shall not be processed.
PEAC NS shall process all applications submitted by VAs on or before September 23, 2021 and forward the results of the evaluation to DepEd for approval.
The following applications shall be disqualified:
- Applications submitted after the deadline
- Applications with incomplete VAF-1
- Applications that contain false information
- Applications by learners who are not eligible for the SHS VP
- Learners who graduated High School in 2015 or earlier
- Incoming Grade 12 learners who were not part of SHS VP in Grade 11
- Non-Filipino learners
Results of Application
Results will be posted on OVAP and may be accessed by VAs. VAs will not be notified of the results; it is the responsibility of the VA to check the results of the application on OVAP. Announcements on the posting of results shall be made on the PEAC NS and DepEd websites, and other available media.
For VAs who fall under Categories F and G, being a QVA is contingent upon the results of the ALS A&E Test or Presentation Portfolio Assessment, and PEPT, respectively. VAs who have successful SHS VP applications but do not pass the ALS A&E Test or Presentation Portfolio Assessment and PEPT in time for SY 2021-2022 will not be entitled to voucher redemption and will not be VPBs.
Grounds for disqualification/exclusion of QVA and revocation of voucher:
- False information in application and/or supporting documents
- Failure of submitted supporting documents to support information declared in the VAF-1
- Failure to submit proof of eligibility to enroll for Grade 11 as ALS Qualifier
- Failure to submit proof of eligibility to enroll for Grade 11 as PEPT Qualifier
DepEd, PEAC, and schools may request the submission of additional documents1 that will support the details in the VA’s Notarized Affidavit, such as the parents’ Certificate of Employment and Income Tax Return, during the conduct of spot checks to ensure the veracity of the VA’s submission.
Willfully, unlawfully, and knowingly making untruthful statements or falsehoods upon material matters required by this voucher application as well as other violations of these guidelines will disqualify/exclude the VA and may bar the learner from other Government Assistance and Subsidies (GAS) programs by DepEd without prejudice to applicable administrative and criminal remedies.
Voucher Validity and Redemption
QVRs redeem the voucher by enrolling for Grade 11 at a non-DepEd SHS in any of the DepEd-approved learning delivery options. As with any learner, the QVR must satisfy the requirements for admission set by the non-DepEd SHS. A QVR who successfully enrolls at a non-DepEd SHS becomes a voucher program beneficiary (VPB). Upon enrollment, QVRs must present to their chosen non-DepEd SHS the following documentary evidence as proof of their eligibility.
Table 3. Documentary Evidence of Eligibility
| QVR Category | Document | Where to obtain document |
|---|---|---|
| Categories A, B | Report card bearing a Learner Reference Number | Junior high school |
| Category C | ESC Certificate | Junior high school or PE AC NS |
| Categories D, E, F, G | QVA Certificate | PEAC NS via OVAP |
| Category F | a. Certificate of Rating (COR) -for those who passed the ALS A&E Test for Grade 10, not earlier than 2016 b. Certificate of Completion -with ALS Portfolio Assessment Certificate Number for those who passed the Presentation Portfolio Assessment | a. DepEd-Bureau of Educational Assessment (BEA) b. DepEd Schools Division Office where the ALS learner took the Presentation Portfolio Assessment |
| Category G | COR – PEPT for Grade 10 | DepEd-BEA |
Voucher redemption begins on October 11, 2021 and ends on November 3, 2021. Vouchers not redeemed within the prescribed period shall no longer be valid.
The voucher covers only two school years – Grades 11 and 12, regardless of the number of school years it takes for the recipient to complete SHS.
Applicable Voucher Values
| Location of Non-DepEd SHS | QVR Category | Voucher Amount | Voucher Amount for SUC/LUC |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Capital Region (NCR) | Categories A, B, F, G | 22,500 | 11,250 |
| Categories C, D, E | 18,000 | ||
| Highly urbanized cities (HUCs) outside of NCR | Categories A, B, F, G | 20,000 | 10,000 |
| Categories C, D, E | 16,000 | ||
| Categories A, B, F, G | 17,500 | 8,750 | |
| Categories C, D, E | 14,000 |
Voucher amounts represent the maximum payment a non-DepEd SHS shall be paid per VPB per school year. Schools receive voucher payments based on the total school fees they charge or the maximum voucher amount applicable, whichever is lower.
Schedule of Implementation
VAs are advised to be mindful of significant dates in the SHS VP as shown in the schedule below:
Table 5. Schedule of SHS VP Application implementation
| Schedule | Process |
|---|---|
| September 9, 2021 | Start of voucher application period |
| September 21, 2021 | Deadline for creation of accounts on OVAP |
| September 23, 2021 | Deadline for submission of applications on OVAP |
| October 11, 2021 | Posting of application results on OVAP and Start of voucher redemption |
Monitoring and Evaluation
DepEd and PEAC shall conduct random checks on schools and learners to ensure program compliance. DepEd Schools Division Offices and Regional Offices as well as PEAC Regional Secretariats shall provide feedback, including complaints and queries, on the implementation of these guidelines to the DepEd Central Office through the GAS Program Management Office (GAS PMO) and the PEAC NS, respectively. For any concerns, voucher applicants may also communicate their feedback through the Public Assistance Action Center and its counterparts in the field.
PEAC shall monitor the conduct of voucher applications, with regular process checks, so as to meet standards on turnaround times and data integrity. It shall prepare and submit interim reports as may be required by DepEd to improve future implementations of the SHS VP.
List of Annexes
Annex 1-A/l-B: Affidavit stating the occupation and income of the applicant’s parents or guardian/ s
Annex 2: Parent Consent Form
Annex 3: Certificate of Financial Assistance
Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program – Affidavit of Family’s Financial Capacity
Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program – Parent Guardian Consent Form
Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program – Certificate of Financial Assistance
I have a question
My son tuition is total to 23200
Is the subsidy total amount to 18000
So if Im not mistaken I should be only charge 5200 correct