The Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) on Wednesday urged Congress to pass the Basic Education Voucher Program Act, warning that failure to act could jeopardize the future of millions of Filipino learners. In a statement reported by BusinessWorld , PEAC said the measure is critical to stabilizing the finances of private schools and ensuring continued access to quality education.
The proposed law would institutionalize a voucher system that allows students from low-income families to enroll in private schools using government subsidies. PEAC noted that many private educational institutions have been struggling with declining enrollment and rising operational costs, especially after the pandemic.
PEAC emphasized that the voucher program would not only assist families but also help preserve the country’s private education sector, which serves a significant portion of the student population. The committee urged lawmakers to prioritize the bill before the current legislative session ends.