The Department of Education (DepEd) has taken legal action against seven private schools allegedly involved in fraudulent claims under the senior high school (SHS) voucher program.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed during a House appropriations committee hearing that criminal complaints have been filed after uncovering “ghost beneficiaries” enrolled under the schools’ programs.
“We have filed a case against seven private schools with ghost beneficiaries, so it has been finalized with the fiscal office; we have a demand letter there,” Angara told lawmakers on Wednesday.
The fraudulent claims amounted to a total of ₱61.9 million, according to the DepEd. Angara also noted that further investigations are still underway, with similar cases being reviewed by the agency’s legal department.
The SHS voucher program, which began in 2015, aims to provide financial assistance to students from low-income families, enabling them to attend private institutions and reducing congestion in public schools. Each voucher is valued between ₱14,000 and ₱22,500, depending on location.
In a separate report earlier this year, DepEd revealed that 55 schools were already removed from the voucher program beginning in 2023 due to various violations—including claims for non-existent students—affecting School Years 2021–2024.
