SHS VOUCHER PROGRAM

The Voucher Program is intended for Grade 10 (Junior High School)

completers who wish to pursue Senior High School (SHS) education in non-
DepEd Schools (not directly operated by DepEd, but granted by DepEd
with a permit to operate SHS) such as Private High Schools, Colleges, and
Universities; Local Universities and Colleges (LUC); State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs); and Technical and Vocational Schools.

Unlike the 4Ps Program, the subsidy is not given to the beneficiary in
cash. DepEd pays directly to the non-DepEd SHS where the student enrolls.
The voucher enables students to claim a discount or a deduction
from the cost of tuition and other fees charged by a non-DepEd SHS where
he or she will enroll.

Qualified Voucher Recipients

- All and only Grade 10 students are eligible for the SHS VP (Grade 10
completers)
1) Automatic qualified voucher recipients (do not need to apply for
vouchers):
CATEGORY A: All Grade 10 completers in public JHSs;
CATEGORY B: All Grade 10 completers in SUCs and LUCs;
CATEGORY C: All Grade 10 completers in private schools
that are Educational Service Contracting (ESC) grantees;

2) Successful Voucher applicants (need to apply for vouchers)

CATEGORY D: Grade 10 completers in non-ESC private
schools.

VOUCHER AMOUNT
- Depends on the location and type of the non-DepEd SHS and the
category of the QVR
- The voucher amount covers the tuition and other school fees.
 - Should the total school fees exceed the voucher amount, the
beneficiary is expected to shoulder the top-up.

What is a top-up?

It is the difference between total school fees and the voucher

amount applicable to the student.

EXAMPLE:
20,000 TOTAL SCHOOL FEES
17, 500 VOUCHER AMOUNT
2,500 TOP-UP

For excess payments, Refund is due to the DepEd.

VOUCHER REDEMPTION AND VALIDITY

- The voucher must be used in the school year immediately

following the year of JHS completion. Redeemed in the first
semester of the S.Y; NOT VALID if not redeemed in the said period.
- A voucher program beneficiary (VPB) may only be able to avail of
the voucher subsidy for two (2) successive years.
- Upon enrollment, QVR will inform the VP- participating SHS of his
status and present the necessary documentary evidence (report
card bearing the LRN of the student) + requirements set by the VP-
participating SHS.

CONDITIONS FOR VOUCHER PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES

A. CONTINUING PARTICIPANTS
- Promoted to Grade 12 and continue to study in a non-DepEd
SHS;
- No maintaining grades are required.

VPBs lose their subsidy if:

1) Drop out in the middle of the school year (if due to prolonged
sickness, accident, death of parent/guardian, he/she may be
 reinstated in the SHS VP; submit relevant documents to the
PEAC);
2) Do not reenroll in the following school year;
3) Fail to be promoted in the next grade level /retained in the
same grade level
4) Transfer to another SHS WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR;
5) Transfer to a DepEd SHS.

B. TRANSFEREES (transfer to different SHS)

Those who wish to retain their voucher subsidy may transfer to
another non-DepEd SHS ONLY AFTER COMPLETING GRADE 11.

If the applicable voucher of the releasing school is different

from that of the accepting school, the accepting school shall be paid
the lower of the two applicable voucher values;

C. Shifters (shift to a different track or strand)

To retain the voucher subsidy:
a. Shift track or strand AFTER THE FIRST SEMESTER OF GRADE 11 IN
THE SAME SCHOOL;
b. AFTER COMPLETING GRADE 11 IN THE SAME SCHOOL OR IN
ANOTHER VP-PARTICIPATING SHS;

IMMERSION PROGRAM
It is one of the course requirements for graduation. Learner has to
undergo Work Immersion in an industry that directly relates to students
postsecondary goal.
It aims to make learners:
1) Appreciate the importance and application of the principles and
theories learned in school;
2) Enhance their technical knowledge and skills;
3) Enrich their skills in communications and human relations; and
4) Develop good work habits, attitudes, appreciation and respect for
work.
Insurance for learners in DepEd schools shall be charged to MOOE.
No. of hours is atleast 80 hours. The maximum number of hours spent in
the work immersion venue is 40 hours per week and no more than 8 hours
per day ( for a child below 18 but older than 15)

FOR GRADE 12
- requires parental consent;
- travel expenses of learners to work immersion venue will also be
charged to MOOE and other funds, subject to the availability of
funds;
- schools and students shall not be asked to pay the shs partner
institution for any work immersion activity conducted.
- Duties and responsibilities of the learner:
1) Attend pre and post immersion activities (see Curriculum Guide)
2) Report to the work immersion partner institution supervisor
during actual immersion;
3) Prepare the documentations and reports required and by the
partner institution;
- Discuss about work immersion venues.
-
 General Questions
What is the SHS Voucher Program?

Through the Voucher Program, students and their families are able to exercise greater choice in deciding the
Senior High School program that is most relevant to their needs and career goals.
The voucher subsidy is not given to students directly in the form of cash but will be disbursed by DepEd to the
non-DepEd SHS where he or she enrolls.
 Who are the recipients of the SHS Voucher Program?

Public Grade 10 completers and Grade 10 completers who are Education Service Contracting (ESC) grantees
in private JHS are automatically qualified voucher recipients and need not apply for an SHS Voucher.
Automatically qualified voucher recipients:
1. Public JHS students will receive 100% of the voucher amount
2. ESC JHS students will receive 80% of the voucher amount
o Note: These students have been pre-identified through the Learner Information System (LIS), which is linked
to the SHS Voucher Management System. Therefore, these students need not present a voucher certificate
when they enroll in a non-DepEd SHS. Instead, their names will be automatically recognized by the SHS
Voucher Management System as voucher recipients. The SHS Voucher Management System is an online
system accessed only by DepEd and non-DepEd SHS to facilitate enrollment, billing and submission of reports
pertaining to the Voucher Program.
May apply, however, applications are subject to review and approval:
0. Grade 10 completers who are not ESC grantees from private JHS
1. *Proceed to ovap.deped.gov.ph for online application. The deadline for online application and submission of
documents is on 15 February 2016.
o **If qualified, students will receive 80% of the voucher amount.
***Students will be notified of their eligibility prior to completing Grade 10. They need to present their
Qualified Voucher Recipient (QVR) certificate when they enroll in the non-DepEd SHS of their choice.
Note: Regardless of whether he or she is a public or private Grade 10 completer, a qualified voucher recipient
that enrolls in an LUC/SUC for SHS will receive 50% of the voucher amount.

How much is the value of the voucher?

The actual amount of the vouchers will depend on the location of the SHS where the student will enroll.
o Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHS who will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located in the National
Capital Region (NCR) will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 22,500. Voucher recipients from private JHS
will receive 80% or PhP 18,000 while those enrolling in SUCs/LUCs, regardless if they completed JHS in a
public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 11,250.
o Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHS who will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located in Highly Urbanized
Cities (HUCs) that are not in NCR will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 20,000. These cities include
Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Davao City, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo
City, Lapu-lapu, Lucena, Mandaue, Olongapo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, and Zamboanga City. The list of
HUCs is based on the 2010 list published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which is the latest available
data on such. Voucher recipients from private JHS will receive 80% or PhP 16,000 while those enrolling in
SUCs/LUCs, regardless if they completed JHS in a public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 10,000.
o Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHSwho will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located incities and
municipalities outside NCR and that are not HUCs will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 17,500. Voucher
recipients from private JHS will receive 80% or PhP 14,000 while those enrolling in SUCs/LUCs, regardless if
they completed JHS in a public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 8,750.
o Note: Cash is NOT given to the student directly instead the subsidy is remitted to the Senior High School
where he/she will enroll.

How did the government come up with the SHS voucher amount?

The SHS voucher amount is aligned to the cost of public provision or how much it would cost government to
support the schooling of a public SHS student. This means that whether a student decides to enroll in a
public/DepEd SHS or a non-DepEd SHS, the governments investment in his or her education is the same.
The voucher amount varies for a Grade 10 completer in a public JHS (100% voucher value) and from a private
JHS (80% voucher value), since students in private schools are paying students and have some capacity to pay.
 The voucher amounts also vary based on location of the SHS taking into consideration the different cost of
education in the locality. Despite the differences in amounts of the voucher tiers, the average voucher
subsidy is PhP18,300 per student, which is aligned with the cost of public provision.

How can I apply for the voucher program?

Reminder: Only Grade 10 completers from private JHS who are non-ESC grantees need to apply in order to
avail the SHS Voucher Program. Note that application does not translate to automatic approval. Applications
will be subject to a review and approval process. The steps are:
o Fill out and download the forms and confirmation slip from Online Voucher Application Portal (OVAP):
http://ovap.deped.gov.ph.
o Submit the filled out form, confirmation slip, and supporting documents to PEAC National Secretariat before
February. 12, 2016 for online application.
o Applicants will be notified of the results. The list of Qualified Voucher Recipients (QVR) will be posted on
OVAP.
o For eligible students, download and print your QVR certificates from the OVAP to be presented upon your
enrollment.
o Results will be released on March 2016.

What are the documentary requirements that need to be submitted along with the accomplished
application form?

2 copies 2x2 ID photo

Certification of Financial Assistance from the JHS (if applicable, meaning if the student already receives
financial support for his schooling under a scholarship program)
PSA Certified Birth Certificate
Photocopy of latest Grade 10 report card
Certificate of Employment (if parent/guardian is employed)
Latest Income Tax Return of parents/legal guardian or Certificate of Tax Exemption or Municipal Certification
of Unemployment

For Students and Parents

Will the voucher amount be the same or not if the student transfers from a private SHS provider in
NCR to a private SHS provider outside NCR and vice versa?

Transfer from one voucher tier location to another is allowed, but the voucher amount to be received by the
voucher program beneficiary in the accepting school shall be the voucher amount of the accepting school or
the voucher amount from the releasing school, whichever is lower.
Example 1: A Grade 11 voucher student enrolled in a non-DepEd SHS in NCR decides to transfer to a non-
DepEd SHS in Rizal. The student will receive a voucher subsidy amounting to PhP17,500 in Grade 12 since he
is now enrolled in a school that is not in NCR and that is not in an HUC.
Example 2: A Grade 11 voucher student enrolled in a non-DepEd SHS in Cebu City decides to transfer to a
non-DepEd SHS in Makati City. The student will receive a voucher subsidy amounting to PhP20,000 in Grade
12, even if he is now enrolled in a school that is in NCR because since it is DepEd policy that the voucher
amount can only be equal to or lower than the subsidy he receives from the originating school for a transferring
student.

Is there a grade requirement for a student to be able to be qualified for the Voucher Program?
 There is no grade requirement for a student to be able to qualify for the SHS Voucher Program. However, a
Grade 10 completer who wishes to enroll in a private school would need to comply with the school's admission
requirements like any other applicant. If a student applicant does not meet grade requirements, for example, the
private school may not grant him/her admission. In this case, the student can opt to apply in other SHS
provider where he/she will qualify, or he/she can decide to enroll in a DepEd SHS instead.

What if the voucher program beneficiary wasn't able to enroll in School Year 2016-2017? Will she/he
still be able to avail of the voucher when she/he goes back to school the following year?

The voucher must be used in the school year immediately following the year of JHS completion. A voucher
program beneficiary (VPB) may only be able to avail of the voucher subsidy for two (2) successive years.
A VPB who passed Grade 11 but was not able to enroll the next school year because of medical reasons will
still be able to avail the Voucher Program, provided that the medical period is not more than one school year.
What are the grounds for disqualification from the SHS Voucher Program?
A VPB shall be disqualified from further participation in the SHS Voucher Program for any of the following
reasons:
o VPB drops out in the middle of the school year
o VPB does not re-enroll the following school year
o VPB is retained in the same grade level
o VPB transfers to another SHS provider within the school year
o VPB transfers to a DepEd SHS provider

Is it true that after the early registration, I can no longer apply/avail the Voucher Program?

No. Public JHS and ESC grantees are automatically qualified for the Voucher Program, while private Grade 10
non-ESC grantees need to apply. The deadline for application is January 15, 2016 for manual application and
February 12, 2016 for online application.
The early registration for Senior High School was conducted to determine the preference of enrollees as
regards the school and tracks they intend to take in the coming school year. These preferences are not final and
may be different from the school or track they will actual enroll in during the opening of classes in June 2016.

After early registration, can I still select another school and/or course preference?

Yes, your child can still select another school and track of his/her preference come enrollment. DepEd
conducted the early registration to determine the preference of enrollees as regards the school and tracks they
intend to take in the coming school year. This is to help schools refine their plans, if needed, in preparation for
the coming school year.

Can the voucher be transferred to another student?

No. The voucher is not a legal tender and cannot be transferred from one student to another.

Will the voucher amount be given to parents of the beneficiaries? Is the SHS Voucher Program same as
Pantawid Pamilya?

No. The voucher amounts will be released by DepEd directly to the non-DepEd SHS. The SHS Voucher
subsidy is different from the subsidy provided under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

As to the documentary requirements, is it acceptable to submit National Statistics Office (NSO) Birth
Certificate instead of the required Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Certified Birth Certificate?
 Yes.

Can a student with no Learner Reference Number (LRN) avail the Voucher Program?

All public and private Grade 10 students of School Year 2015-2016 (who are expected to proceed to SHS in
June 2016) are registered in the Learner Information System (LIS) and are assigned a Learner Reference
Number (LRN). Grade 10 ESC grantees in private JHS also have unique student numbers and are registered in
the ESC Information Management System, which is linked to the DepEd LIS.
A student who has graduated from secondary school prior to March 2015 and who was not assigned a Learner
Reference Number while he/she was a student can still opt to enroll in SHS (although he/she is not required to
do so). This student, however, is not eligible to participate in the SHS Voucher Program. He/she may opt to
enroll in a DepEd SHS, which does not charge tuition fees.