Quality education is every Filipino child’s right, but sometimes, family finances can make this difficult to achieve.

The Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Scholarship offers hope by helping students access private junior high schools through tuition subsidies.

If you’re a parent or guardian of an incoming Grade 7 student, this guide will help you understand the program better.

 

What is the PEAC ESC Scholarship?

The ESC is a partnership program between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC).

Its main goal is to ease the crowding in public high schools by supporting students who choose to enroll in participating private schools.

Each grantee receives a tuition subsidy of about ₱11,000 to ₱13,000 per year (depending on location), paid directly to the school by DepEd through PEAC.
This support continues until the student completes all four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10).

Who Can Apply?

The ESC grant is mainly for incoming Grade 7 students.
Applications are done only once—in Grade 7. Students in Grades 8 to 10 are no longer eligible to apply.

Basic Requirements:

• Must be a Filipino citizen.
• Graduate of a public or DepEd-recognized elementary school.
• Not a previous ESC grantee.
• Students from ALS A&E or PEPT qualifiers may also apply.

Once accepted, the grant is renewed yearly until Grade 10, as long as the student remains qualified.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Here’s a simple process to follow when applying for the scholarship:

1. Choose an ESC-participating school
   • Ask the private junior high school if they are certified by PEAC.
   • Schools will usually announce available ESC slots during enrollment.
2. Secure and fill out the ESC application form
   • This form is provided by the ESC-participating school.
   • Complete all details accurately and prepare the required documents.
3. Prepare the documentary requirements
   • Grade 6 Report Card (Form 138) or Certificate of Completion.
   • Birth Certificate (PSA copy).
   • Certificate of Good Moral Character (from the elementary school).
   • For ALS or PEPT passers: Certificate of Rating or Proof of Qualification.
4. Submit the application to the school
   • Hand in your form and documents directly to the school’s admissions or guidance office.
   • Some schools may require an interview or orientation for parents and students.
5. Wait for slot confirmation
   • Since slots are limited, the school will validate if your child has been awarded the ESC grant.
   • Priority is given to public elementary school graduates.
6. Sign the Parent Contract
   • Parents and students will be asked to sign a contract agreeing to the responsibilities of both parties.
   • This formalizes your child’s acceptance as an ESC grantee.
7. Enroll your child
   • Proceed with school enrollment.
   • The tuition subsidy will be automatically applied and billed to DepEd through PEAC.

Reminder: Application timelines may vary depending on the school. It’s best to inquire early so you don’t miss the slot allocation.

Slot Allocation: Limited but Fair

ESC slots are not unlimited, so schools are given a specific number of grantee slots.

• New ESC-participating schools get a fixed number of slots (e.g., 50 slots).
• Old ESC-participating schools get slots based on the number of billed Grade 7 grantees in the previous year or their fixed allocation, whichever is higher.
• Priority goes to students from public elementary schools.
• Some schools may get extra slots if they achieve high ratings or accreditations.

Tip: Apply early because late submissions may lead to disqualification.

Parent and Student Commitments

Families of ESC grantees must sign a Parent Contract with the school.
This ensures that both the child and the parents commit to education.

Parents/Guardians agree to:

• Support their child’s attendance and participation in school.
• Pay fees not covered by the ESC subsidy.
• Follow school rules.

Students agree to:

• Respect school policies.
• Maintain good grades and discipline.
• Continue their studies seriously.

Renewal of Scholarship

The ESC grant automatically renews every year if the student:

• Gets promoted to the next grade level.
• Stays enrolled in an ESC-participating school.

The scholarship may be terminated if the student:

• Drops out (without valid health reasons).
• Fails to re-enroll the next school year.
• Gets retained in the same grade.
• Is dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
• Transfers to a school that does not participate in ESC.

Transfer Guidelines

Transfers are allowed under certain conditions.

• If the student is already an ESC grantee, they can continue the subsidy when transferring to another ESC-participating school, provided they present an ESC Transfer Certificate from the previous school.
• Non-ESC students who transfer to an ESC school cannot apply for the scholarship anymore.
• If the subsidy amount differs between schools, the lower amount will apply.

Why This Matters

The ESC program is not just financial aid—it’s a bridge for families who dream of better learning opportunities for their children.
By helping decongest public schools and strengthen private education, it gives students more chances to thrive in smaller class sizes with improved resources.

Final Thoughts

Education opens doors, but sometimes, those doors feel heavy for families.

The PEAC ESC Scholarship lightens the burden, especially for incoming Grade 7 students who dream of completing junior high school in a supportive learning environment.

If you’re considering this opportunity, the best step is to inquire directly with your chosen ESC-participating school’s admissions or guidance office.

They can provide the most updated requirements and application schedules.