1. In compliance with the DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2023 which pertains to the above-mentioned subject, this Office hereby reiterates the salient points of the said Issuance.
2. In support to recognizing the complementary roles of public and private educational institutions in the educational system, the Department of Education constantly implements several programs under the Government Assistance and Subsidies (GAS).
3. The continuing COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant challenge to the operations of private schools and continued participation of schools, learners and teachers in the GAS programs namely: the Education Service Contracting Service (ESC) Program, Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) Program and Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP).
4. DepEd Order No. 039, s. 2020 titled “Special Provisions on Private School Voluntary Closures and Participation in Government Assistance and Subsidies Programs in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic (Amends Certain Provisions of DepEd Order No. 88, s. 2010f’ effective School Year (SY) 2020-2021 was released to address the aforementioned issue. DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2022 titled “Interim Guidelines on Private School Voluntary Closures and Participation in Government Assistance and Subsidies Programs in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic” became the additional basis effective SY 2020-2021 only.
5. Allowing new ESC grantees in the upper grade levels will temper the decline in utilization of program funds. Accordingly, the following interim guidelines shall apply only for learners participating in the ESC Program for SY 2022- 2023 and SY 2023-2024.
– An ESC participating school shall be allowed to have new ESC grantees in the higher-grade levels (Grades 8-10) SY 2022-2023 and SY 2023- 2024, provided the school has available Grade 7 slots. In the selection of grantees, the following prioritization shall be observed:
a. Transfer-in students from public high schools,
b. Non-ESC students in the same ESC-participating school whose families were significantly affected by the pandemic, and
c. Transfer-in students from non-ESC participating schools.
6. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Issuance is directed.
