BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen collaboration with the private sector, Education Secretary Sonny Angara is working closely with private education stakeholders through the Public-Private Complementarity Framework.

In partnership with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), the Department of Education (DepEd) is developing a three-year action plan for Public-Private Complementarity to address persistent challenges and implement the administration’s 5-Point Reform Agenda.

This initiative builds on a recent workshop focused on operationalizing the Public-Private Complementarity Framework, which aims to address perennial challenges in education, including overcrowding and teaching quality.

“As you all know, DepEd faces long-standing challenges, but we continue to collaborate with our private partners to bring our projects to life and transform our education system,” Sec. Angara said.

DepEd also recently hosted private school leaders for the 27th National Convention and the annual Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) Haligi ng Karunungan Awards. The event centered on the future of private education institutions and the integration of private-public school complementarity.

During the FAPSA Convention, Sec. Angara acknowledged the significant contributions of private schools to basic education and reaffirmed DepEd’s commitment to working alongside them to improve policies and programs.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognizes the critical role of the private sector in nation-building. His administration is pushing for stronger public-private collaboration, not just in business, but in education,” he added.

Furthermore, PEAC and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) expressed their support for DepEd as the agency investigates reports of ghost students within the Senior High School Voucher Program, which allegedly involves 12 private schools across nine divisions.

“The PEAC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the proper implementation of subsidy programs. Together, we will continue working towards a transparent, fair, and effective voucher program that truly serves the needs of Filipino learners,” PEAC stated.

According to PEAC, the SHS Voucher Program has served approximately 6.1 million students since its launch nine years ago and has benefited 1,287,144 learners enrolled in 4,421 private senior high schools nationwide for the school year 2024-2025 alone.

Last year, DepEd engaged private sector partners to mobilize support for priority initiatives, including preparations for upcoming international assessments and enhancements to the SHS Work Immersion Program.

A total of 37 private schools have been selected to take part in international assessments. With the support of the private and public stakeholders, the Secretary aims to enhance assessment performance and ensure consistent high-quality outcomes across the board.

*Cover Photo from DepEd