Gov’t distributes education vouchers

The government recently distributed vouchers worth P4,000 each to five public elementary schools in Tondo, Manila in order to allow poor but deserving students to enroll in private schools.

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, officer-in-charge, said the distribution was made during President Arroyo’s visit to five recipient elementary schools.

These are the newly rehabilitated General M. Hizon Elementary School along Jose Abad Santos Avenue, F. G. Calderon Elementary School (FGCES), Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School, Francisco Balagtas Elementary School and the Antonio Regidor Elementary School.

The vouchers were distributed last Monday.

Mrs. Arroyo’s visit to the schools was part of the DepEd’s implementation of the Food for School Program (FSP) for elementary schoolchildren.

"The education voucher entitles graduating students from Grade 6 to an educational voucher worth P4,000 to enroll in a private high school. This will be given to poor but deserving students," Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo said that about 50 students for each school are to benefit from the program that will be extended to students at the end of this school year.

The vouchers can be used for the students’ enrollment in any private high school institutions of their choice, said Hidalgo.

Hidalgo likewise stressed that the FSP is meant for preschool and first grade pupils who will be given a one-kilo daily allowance of iron-fortified rice over a three-month period.

"But they will only be given the kilo of rice if they are in school. So you have to be in school so that you will be given one kilo of rice. All preschool and grade one children in Metro Manila will be given rice under the pro-poor program of President Arroyo," she said.

Hidalgo also said that the President’s school outreach program was initially launched outside Metro Manila in October 2005 and will continue even this coming school year.

During the school visits, Mrs. Arroyo also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release P500 million for the construction of additional classrooms.

Earlier in January, Arroyo ordered the immediate release of funds amounting to almost P3 billion to the education sector for the construction of 6,000 classrooms a year until 2010 to close the classroom gap.

Arroyo has claimed the education sector as one of her administration’s priorities for improving the country’s economic condition.