In the Philippines, millions of families rely on private schools for their children’s education. To help make this possible—especially for low-income learners—the government offers support through a program called GASTPE.
Let’s explore what the program is, how it works, and what’s new in 2025.
What Is GASTPE?
GASTPE stands for Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education. It’s a national program run by the Department of Education (DepEd), with help from the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC). The program was created through Republic Act No. 6728 and later improved by RA 8545.
GASTPE has three main goals:
- Help more students access quality education in private schools
- Reduce overcrowding in public schools
- Support private schools so they can keep providing good education
Key Components of GASTPE
Here are the major parts of the program:
- Education Service Contracting (ESC)
This gives scholarships to incoming Junior High School students (Grades 7 to 10) who enroll in participating private schools. The subsidy covers a portion of their tuition.
- Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS)
This gives annual financial support to qualified private school teachers who teach ESC grantees. It’s meant to help bridge the pay gap between public and private school teachers.
- Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP)
This helps Grade 11 and 12 students pay for their tuition and fees when they choose to attend private schools instead of public senior high schools.
What’s New in 2025?
The GASTPE program continues to evolve. Here are the most important updates:
- Bigger Salary Subsidy for Private Teachers
Starting School Year 2025–2026, the annual Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) will increase from ₱18,000 to ₱24,000.
This change was approved by the State Assistance Council and signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara. It aims to recognize the hard work of private school teachers and reduce the gap between their salaries and those of public school teachers.
To qualify, a teacher must:
- Be licensed and full-time
- Teach in a school participating in ESC
- Handle ESC students for at least 3 hours a week
- New Law to Expand and Improve the Program
The House of Representatives has passed House Bill No. 11214 on second reading. If signed into law, it will:
- Focus more help on students from low-income families and disadvantaged groups
- Create a more comprehensive voucher system
- Set higher standards for participating private schools
- Provide extra support for teachers (training, scholarships, school improvements)
- Create a Bureau of Private Education under DepEd to lead implementation
- Improved Guidelines and Monitoring
In 2025, DepEd and PEAC launched new rules and held regional orientations to explain:
- Billing procedures
- Program guidelines
- Compliance requirements for schools
Participation in these orientations is now required. Regular checks are done to make sure only qualified students and schools are receiving aid.
- Proposals to Expand to Younger Learners
New bills, such as Senate Bill No. 2911, aim to include Kindergarten and elementary students in voucher programs. This would ease congestion in public schools and increase support for young learners from low-income families.
Impact of GASTPE So Far
Millions of Beneficiaries
Every year, millions of students and over 100,000 teachers benefit from the program.
Public School Decongestion
By encouraging students to study in private schools, GASTPE helps reduce overcrowding in public classrooms.
Focus on Quality
Private schools in the program must meet DepEd standards and undergo regular reviews. This keeps the focus on student learning and school performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who is eligible for the Education Service Contracting (ESC) subsidy?
A: Incoming Grade 7 students who enroll in ESC-participating private schools are eligible. The school must be recognized by DepEd and the student must meet the school’s admission criteria.
Q: Do Senior High School (SHS) vouchers apply to all private schools?
A: No. SHS vouchers can only be used at DepEd-recognized private SHS institutions that are part of the program. Some elite or international schools may not be eligible.
Q: Can students transfer schools and still keep their GASTPE benefits?
A: Yes, but only under certain conditions. Students may transfer to another participating school, and the receiving school must honor the grant provided the student remains eligible.
What Filipinos Think About GASTPE
We gathered comments from forums, parent groups, and teacher discussions online to understand how the public views the GASTPE program.
“Without the voucher, we couldn’t afford to keep our son in the school he’s been in since Grade 1. GASTPE really helped us during the pandemic, and even now.”
– Parent from Cavite, via Facebook group discussion
“I teach in a small private school. The TSS isn’t huge, but every peso counts. I’m glad they’re increasing it—it shows we matter too.”
– Private school teacher, from a Reddit thread on r/Philippines
“We still need more support, especially for younger learners. The voucher should cover Kinder and Grade 1 students too.”
– Commenter on DepEd’s SHS Voucher Program announcement
Video: DepEd – Annual subsidy para sa private school teachers, itataas sa susunod na taon | Unang Balita
The Department of Education approved an increase in the annual subsidy for eligible private school teachers from P18,000 to P24,000 starting School Year 2025–2026.
This raise recognizes private educators as key partners in advancing the country’s education system. Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting teachers, echoing President Marcos’ prioritization of education.
The subsidy targets licensed teachers in private schools participating in government assistance programs, helping to address compensation gaps with public school teachers.
This move supports teachers who diligently contribute to student success under the Education Service Contracting scheme.
Conclusion
GASTPE remains one of the most important education subsidy programs in the country. It provides financial relief to students and teachers, strengthens private education, and supports the public school system by easing overcrowding.
With new reforms underway—from better teacher subsidies to a more inclusive voucher system—GASTPE is being reshaped to meet the needs of today’s learners. For many Filipino families, it’s more than just a program. It’s a pathway to better opportunities.