SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Educational Service Contracting (ESC)
Program Description
Educational Service Contracting (ESC) is a partnership program by the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at decongesting overcrowded public junior high schools. In ESC, the excess capacities of certified private junior high schools are “contracted” through slot allocations for students who would otherwise have gone to public schools. The slots come with subsidies called ESC grants, and program beneficiaries are called ESC grantees or, for the purposes of these guidelines, simply grantees.
Educational Service Contracting (ESC) scholarship is one of the many partnership financial aid programs of the Department of Education (DepEd), primarily aiming to decongest overcrowded public junior high schools. It provides slot allocations for students who would otherwise have gone to public schools.
Eligible ESC grantee
Elementary graduates who will pursue secondary education in an ESC participating private high school or incoming Grade 7 can avail of the program.
In case of transfer, a student can still enjoy its grant provided that the student will transfer to any ESC participating schools. Just make sure to present to the accepting school a certification letter reflecting the student’s School-ESC identification number not later than the online application’s cut-off date.
The grant is subject for termination if a grantee does any of the following conditions:
• Drops out for non-health reasons in the middle of the school year;
• Does not re-enroll the coming school year;
• Fails to be promoted to the next grade level or is retained at the same grade level;
• Is suspended for more than two (2) weeks, dismissed or expelled by the school for disciplinary reasons; or
• Transfers to a non-ESC-participating JHS.
Grantees that drop out due to a parent or guardian’s death, force majeure, prolonged illness, or accident may be re-instated into the ESC program provided they submit documents to support their claim.
Amount of grant
The amount of grant depends on the location of the ESC-participating junior high school (JHS) and quoted per ESC grantee per school year. The amount will be paid directly to the school and remains the same over its four-year term unless the State Assistance Council approves adjustments. To give you an idea of the amount of the grant, check the image below.
Take note, however, that if the total school fees declared by the school in the ESC IMS are lower than the amount of the ESC grant, the school will only pay the total school fees.
Requirements and application process
• Incoming JHS or Grade 7 students who wish to apply for the ESC program should follow the following steps:
• Fill out the ESC application form then submit it to the registrar’s office attached with the other requirements mentioned below;
• Write a letter of intent to the high school principal, indicating the following essential details: the name of the student, monthly income, other sources of income (if any), and the reason for applying for a government subsidy;
• Any proof of financial means of both parents/guardians/person who is supporting the student;
• Recent 1×1 colored identification photo of the student.
• Other documents: Form 138, Good Moral Certificate, Birth Certificate (PSA)
Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Recipient
GUIDELINES ON ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FOR THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM (SHS VP)
I. Rationale and legal bases
Republic Act No. 10533 (RA 10533), otherwise known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, lengthens Philippine basic education from 10 to 13 years with the addition of Kindergarten and Grades 11 and 12 in Senior High School (SHS). Grade 11 was introduced in School Year (SY) 2016-17 and Grade 12 will be introduced in SY 2017-18.
RA 10533 explicitly expands Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Republic Act 8545) to include Grades 11 and 12. It further mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to formulate programs to enact the abovementioned provision based on the principles of public-private partnership. In this regard, DepEd Order No. 11 series of 2015(DO 11 s.2015) introduced the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) as a mechanism to provide financial support to qualified students in SHS.
RA 10533 supports Article XIV Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution of 1987 which guarantees the right of every Filipino to accessible and quality basic education. Moreover, Section 2.3 of Article XIV mandates the State to establish a system of, among others, subsidies and incentives to deserving individuals in both public and private schools.
The general intent of this Department Order is to provide clear and detailed guidelines in implementing processes related to the application for vouchers.
II. Scope of the guidelines
These implementing guidelines shall have national applicability and shall detail the processes and flow of activities in voucher applications from prequalification to redemption.
III. Policy principles
Per DO 11, s. 2015, the SHS VP intends to:
a. Uphold the right to quality basic education and increase access in SHS;
b. Increase the diversity of SHS providers beyond the current configuration. This in turn will engender a more dynamic system with schools deciding and innovating on their own;
c. Provide greater choice to students and their families in deciding the SHS program that caters to their needs and career goals;
d. Relieve DepEd from the institutional pressures of providing SHS directly through DepEd schools within a very short period of time;
e. Ease the financial impact on higher educational institutions that will experience reduced enrollment in the first few years of SHS implementation.
The first three objectives ultimately lead to the very purpose of K to 12 reform: quality, accessible, and relevant education. As such, the SHS VP is meant to be a long-term program of DepEd.
IV. Definition of terms
Non-DepEd Senior High School (Non-DepEd SHS) – Providers of SHS not directly operated by the DepEd. These include private high schools, private colleges and universities; local universities and colleges (LUCs); state universities and colleges (SUCs); and technical and vocational institutions (TVIs).
Voucher – A subsidy given by the State to qualified Grade 10 completers to enable them to enroll in a non-DepEd SHS of their choice. The assistance is meant to defray the cost of total school fees charged by a non-DepEd SHS. The entitlement is not given to the student as cash; DepEd instead pays directly to the non-DepEd SHS where the student enrolls.
Grade 10 Completers – Students currently in Grade 10 and expected to complete Junior High School (JHS) at the end of the school year
Voucher Applicants (VAs) – Students who apply to qualify for vouchers. Students who are already prequalified need not apply.
Qualified Voucher Recipients (QVRs) – Grade 10 completers who are prequalified or VAs who successfully qualify for the voucher subsidy
Voucher Program Beneficiaries (VPBs) – QVRs who successfully enroll in a non-DepEd SHS and thus benefit from the voucher subsidy
V. Delineation of roles
DepEd is the institutional owner and final authority of the SHS VP. It implements SHS VP to support RA 10533 or the K to 12 reform agenda of the government. It shall oversee and formulate policies and programs, provide the needed resources, and monitor and evaluate indicators related to the SHS VP to ensure its successful implementation.
The Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) has been contracted by the DepEd to manage the SHS VP. PEAC is the trustee of the Fund for Assistance to Private Education, a perpetual trust fund created to provide assistance to private education in the country. PEAC shall coordinate with DepEd and other stakeholders to ensure that applications are processed and results are promptly released.
Students are responsible for their choice of Senior High School and their own voucher applications. They shall ensure that forms are correctly filled, documents are complete, and applications are received by PEAC on or before the deadline.
Schools may provide assistance and guidance to uphold student choice in the SHS VP. They must provide career guidance programs and process documents requested by the students. They may also conduct orientations on the SHS VP and provide resources to facilitate voucher applications. In contrast, schools should not impose their preferences on students or otherwise engage in practices that undermine student choice.
VI. Eligibility and application procedures
A. Eligibility
All and only Grade 10 students in the current school year are eligible for the SHS VP. For brevity, these students are termed as Grade 10 completers. Grade 10 completers are subdivided into automatically qualified students and voucher applicants.
1. Automatically qualified students
Students falling under the categories below automatically qualify for vouchers and are considered qualified voucher recipients (QVRs). They do not need to apply for vouchers.
• Category A: All Grade 10 completers in Public JHS
• Category B: All Grade 10 completers in SUCs and LUCs
• Category C: All Grade 10 completers in private schools who are Educational Service Contracting (ESC) grantees
2. Voucher applicants (VAs)
Category D: All Grade 10 completers in private schools who are not ESC grantees and wish to avail of voucher subsidy in order to enroll in a non-DepEd SHS. Only students in this category need to apply for vouchers and are thus termed voucher applicants (VAs).
VII. Qualification or disqualification
PEAC shall process all submitted applications and forward the results to DepEd for approval. All automatically qualified students and VAs who meet the qualification criteria are considered qualified voucher recipients (QVRs). They shall be tagged as QVRs in the DepEd LIS.
VAs who do not qualify will not receive voucher subsidy. Applications with false information or are incomplete after the deadline are grounds for disqualification.
VIII. Applicable voucher values
The applicable voucher amount depends largely on the location, type, and fees of the non-DepEd SHS where the QVR wishes to enroll. The category of the QVR also affects the voucher amount. The maximum voucher amounts are shown in the table below:
Voucher amounts represent the maximum payment a Non-DepEd SHS Provider shall be paid per VPB per School Year. Schools receive voucher payments based on the total school fees they charge or the maximum voucher amount applicable, whichever is lower.
Unbound Scholarship
UNBOUND
Christian Foundation for Children became Christian Foundation for Children and Aging and then, in 2014, Unbound.
Over the years, the organization has served more than 800,000 children, students and aging adults and currently works with more than 300,000 people supported by 260,000 sponsors.
Families around the world contribute to Unbound. Sponsors, volunteers and the families we serve all bring their gifts, initiative and potential to bear on creating connections and lifting each other up in the face of life’s challenges.
The organization has grown, but the dream of families working together remains. The founders’ commitment to the people we serve and their passionate and dedicated example continues to inspire us today.
WHO WE ARE
Unbound is an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. We build relationships of mutual respect and support that bridge cultural, religious and economic divides. We invite all people of goodwill to join us.
Working side by side with people of diverse faith traditions in 19 countries, we bring people together to challenge poverty in new and innovative ways.
We inspire confidence and offer opportunity and encouragement to children and families living on the margins of society. We create practical and trustworthy means for people to help others and nurture human connections that uplift us all.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe in strong families.
Unbound sponsorship goes beyond distributing material goods and empowers families to become self-sufficient. Families—those with both parents in the home and those headed by one parent or a guardian—are the pillars of a strong, supportive community.
We believe in the wisdom of mothers.
Mothers are often the primary caregivers and know what their families need most to succeed. Our programs are designed in true partnership with the mothers, encouraging them to participate in defining benefits and services for their children.
We believe in the power of friendships.
We provide the opportunity for the sponsor and sponsored friend to make a real connection that gives hope and meaning to both. This connection opens a window between the two worlds and reveals the bonds that tie us together as one human family.
We believe in the dignity of all human beings.
We recognize the inherent dignity of all human beings. When we create a true exchange of cultures, understanding and love as equals, we are doing more than alleviating material poverty. We are also creating the bonds of lasting peace and unity among people of diverse faiths and backgrounds.
We believe in hope.
Because the families we serve are active participants in the program and in their own struggle, hope is a powerful gift that can help them overcome tremendous odds. Their courage in the face of poverty brings hope to their sponsors as well.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
OUR MISSION IS TO WALK WITH THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED OF THE WORLD.
• We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, aging and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their desired potential and participate fully in society.
• We invite people of good will to live in daily solidarity with the world’s poor through one-to-one sponsorship.
• We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice.
Grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor, Unbound is a lay Catholic organization working with persons of all faith traditions to create a worldwide community of compassion and service.
OUR CORE VALUES
Theological Base
We are grounded in the Gospel call to serve the poor.
Dignity of the Person
Recognizing the God-given dignity of each person is essential to sincere, lasting, loving relationships.
Integrity and Accountability
Honesty and transparency are necessary to operate an efficient and effective organization.
Respectful Relationships
A relationship of mutual respect between sponsor and sponsored person is central to Unbound’s mission.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Academic Scholarship
Non-Academic Scholarship
• Student Assistance Services (SAS)
The hiring of Student Assistants and Services (SAs) for employment in the different School offices is supervised by the Assistant Coordinator for Scholarships. The Assistant Coordinator for Scholarships conducts the preliminary interview of applicants. However, the final choice is made by the employing office that supervises the student’s work, keeps track of the academic performance and pays the approved hourly wages in the form of tuition discount. Aside from the financial need, the student’s ability and qualification for the work are also of major considerations.
Prior to the final choice to be made by the employing Office/s the Assistant Coordinator for Scholarships must seek the final approval of the School President, who is at the same time the Coordinator for Scholarship Programs.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES
• Band Member
• Half Merit Scholarship
• Full Merit Scholarship
• CARITAS Scholarship
• UNIFAST-TES Scholarship
• TULONG-DUNONG