DepEd raises private teachers’ salary subsidy to P24,000

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara has signed an order increasing the annual Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) for qualified private school teachers under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program to P24,000 from P18,000.

Angara said the P6,000 hike in the annual subsidy per teacher will take effect starting School Year 2025-2026, following an ad referendum approval by the State Assistance Council, the policy-making body that oversees GASTPE.

He said the move seeks to support and recognize the vital contributions of private school teachers in the country’s education system.

“For those who watched the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Marcos, we clearly saw that education is his top priority and we have always stood by the principle that education is a collective mission,” Angara said.

“The disparity between the salary of our teachers in the public and the private (schools) is big but today, we are taking a decisive step to narrow that gap and uplift the private education system alongside the public,” he added.

The GASTPE Program, created under Republic Act 8545 or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, provides financial aid to students and teachers in private schools. Its Teachers’ Salary Subsidy component increases the pay of teachers in schools participating in the Education Service Contracting (ESC) scheme.

To qualify for TSS, a teacher must be a licensed educator, employed full-time in a participating private school and teaching ESC grantees for at least three hours a week. These requirements ensure that the subsidy is granted to teachers directly contributing to the academic success of students under the government’s assistance program.

Angara also highlighted the importance of partnerships with local government units, development partners and private education stakeholders in ensuring quality and accessible basic education.

He said the subsidy increase represents a concrete step toward advancing the Marcos administration’s education reform agenda, which includes improving teacher welfare, providing digital tools for educators and reducing administrative workload.