In pursuit of transparency while giving quality education to the youth of Municipality of Santa Ana and nearby towns, Holy Cross College oriented students and parents on the Senior High School voucher last October 12 and 14.
The voucher is a financial grant that is under the partnership of the Department of Education with certified public schools to decongest public and state-owned schools. This program is mandated by Republic Act No. 8545 or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE).
The beneficiary of the said government grants is given to selected deprived but deserving students to continue their education amid poverty. The school with a heart is one the participating school that assists and support students in finishing their studies.
HCC President, Atty. Dennis C. Pangan delivered an inspiring story during the orientation which tackles the hardship of the students. He narrates the novel ‘Hope for the Flowers’ by Trina Paulus that reflects the cycle and period of life.
“Kayong mga mag-aaral sa Senior High School para kayong kinulong, hindi kayo makalabas at lalong hindi kayo makapunta sa eskwelahan. Sa nangyayaring ito inihahanlintulad ko kayo sa isang cocoon kayo lahat ay mga caterpillar,” he narrated.
“Bilang mga caterpillar buoin ninyo ang inyong cocoon at kayo ay mag-transform habang kayo ay nasa bahay, pilitin ninyong maabot at pilitin ninyong malaman lahat ang inyong mga aralin para pagdating ng panahon kayo ay lalabas bilang isang magandang butterfly,” President Pangan added.
SHS Principal Maria Teresa Edejer and Assistant Principal Camilo Lacanlale spearheaded the orientation to discuss the purpose of SHS voucher.
The school clarified to the attendees that a student who completed his/her Grade 10 at a public school and officially enrolled in HCC is an automatic grantee and will not submit any requirement.
“Doon naman po sa mga grade 10 completers sa mga private school na hindi ESC grantee, bibigyan po kayo ng DEPED at PEAC upang makapag-apply dito sa voucher program kaya lang po kailangan po magsubmit ng lahat ng mga kailangan upang kayo po ay maging qualified,” Assistant Principal Camilo Lacanlale said.
Students who completed their Grade 10 at a public school can receive the 100% of the voucher value, while 80 % for those students from a private school who applied for the program.
The grantees are eligible for P17, 500 per year and P14, 000 per year for a student from private schools.
HCC also implements no ‘TOP-UP’ for SHS tuition; this means there is no additional fee in the tuition that will be handled by the parents. The school clarified that the voucher is applicable for the tuition and not for the miscellaneous fees. Therefore, students and parents will pay the said particulars.
“Ang miscellaneous fee po natin ay binabaan po natin dahil wala po tayong face-to-face learning… Gusto po naming iparating sa inyong lahat na hindi po tumaas ang miscellaneous fee,” Lacanlale said.
The terms and conditions of SHS vouchers shall be met by the students to continue their grants. Students shall be promoted to Grade 12 and there will be no maintaining grades.
However, the voucher will be terminated if the student drops out in the middle of the school year, does not enroll the following school year, and transfer to DepEd SHS.