By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In a ceremonial signing on July 31, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara inked an order increasing the annual Teacher’s Salary Subsidy (TSS) for qualified educators in private schools under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program.
He underscored the importance of this initiative as a gesture honoring the role of private sector educators in contributing to progress in the field of education and the development of the nation.
“Sa mga tumutok sa ikaapat na State of the Nation Address ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr., malinaw na nakita natin—nasa rurok ng kanyang mga prayoridad ang edukasyon. At simula’t sapul, pinaninindigan natin na ang edukasyon ay isang kolektibong misyon,” Angara said.
“Malaki pa rin ang agwat ng kalagayan ng ating mga guro sa pribado kumpara sa pampublikong paaralan. Ngunit ngayon, nagsasagawa tayo ng isang konkretong hakbang upang paliitin ang agwat na iyon at itaguyod ang pribadong edukasyon kasama ng pampubliko,” he added, vowing to address the wage disparity between teachers in public and private schools.
The subsidy hike from P18,000 to P24,000 was approved via an ad referendum of the State Assistance Council (SAC), which serves as the policy-making arm of GASTPE.
GASTPE Program was instituted by virtue of Republic Act No. 8545 or the “Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act,” to provide financial support to learners and educators in private educational institutions.
To qualify for the TSS, teachers must be licensed, full-time employees of a private school enrolled under the Education Service Contracting (ESC) scheme, and provide classes to ESC grantees for at least three hours per week.
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