A GROUP of Christian schools, colleges and universities urged the government to expand the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe) initiative that helps address overcapacity in public schools.
In a statement, Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) head and Silliman University president Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the program, as it has empowered its members to provide accessible, quality education to students for the past 35 years.
“Through Gastpe, countless students, particularly [the poor], have been able to access the transformative power of a Christian education,” Cernol-McCann said.
She added that with its critical role in sustaining private Christian education in the country, Gastpe aligns with its mission to serve with compassion and integrity.
The program covers junior and senior high schools; it provides financial assistance to students and teachers, improves access to quality education, and decongest public schools.
Cernol-McCann said that in the last school year, member schools served more than 3,600 beneficiaries under Gastpe, attesting to the program’s reach and impact.
“Many of our graduates, who were once Gastpe beneficiaries, have become leaders in their communities and industries. Their successes speak of the quality of education they received and the opportunities made possible by Gastpe,” she said.
Programs under Gastpe include education service contracting (ESC), teachers’ salary subsidy, senior high school voucher program (SHSVP), and in-service training (INSET).
The ESC allows public schools to enter service contracts with private schools to accommodate overflow students from public schools and from communities with no public schools.
“The program has also provided significant support to our teachers and educational staff. Financial resources have facilitated training and development programs, ensuring that our educators can continually adapt to evolving educational needs,” Cernon-McCann added.
ACSCU has 118 member-schools across the Philippines, serving 12.45 million student-grantees since 1989.
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