Alam nyo ba na ang gobyerno, through the Department of Education, ay may pundo to support our students who are graduates from Public elementary school and who wish to enroll in a private school? This has been made possible by granting ESC subsidy under the Funds for Assistance to Private Education or FAPE program.
What is an ESC?
The Educational Service Contracting Scheme is a program provided for by Republic Act 8545 (amending RA 6727) or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in a Private Education (GASTPE) which main objective is to decongest private secondary schools by “contracting” the excess capacity of private high schools through the provision of subsidies for students who otherwise would have enrolled in the public school.
Who can qualify for the program?
Preference shall be given to Grade 6 graduates from public elementary school who wish to enroll in a non-DepEd school are qualified to enroll in the program. However, these students must undergo the selection process in the ESC participating schools. Grantees will pay school fees and expenses in excess, of the tuition subsidy. A school committee processes application, screens and grant applicants. A fixed annual tuition subsidy through four years of secondary education. The value of the grant differs from NCR to other regions in the country. Government subsidy will continue provided ESC grantees must pass all academic requirements in each year level. Grantees can not take a leave from schooling except causes due to force majeure or illness.
Condition for ESC Grantees
1, The ESC grant covers four years of secondary education starting from grade 7 to grade 10. Students enrolling in night schools with 5-year curriculum can only avail of the first 4 years of his/her education. No new grants are awarded at the higher level.The grant is automatically renewed to students who are promoted to the next grade level and enrolls in the same school. No maintaining grade is required for the retention of the program.
Termination of the grant due to the following reasons;
- if a student drops out from school in the middle of the school year for non-health reasons.
- failure of the student to enroll in the next school year.
- if the student is retained at the same level due to failing grades
- if the student is suspended from school for more than 2 weeks or is dismissed or expelled due violation of school policy, or
- If the student transfers to a non-ESC participating school.
- Grantees who drop out due to the following reasons may opt to continue the program upon presentation of pertinent documents to validate his/her reason
- the death of the Grantees parent or guardian
- for the reason of force majeure events
- in the case of serious illness as supported by medical certificates
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A grantee may apply for transfer to another ESC participating school, however, ESC grantees from outside NCR, is not qualified to transfer to NCR ESC- schools, but a grantee from other regions who opt to transfer to NCR ESC participating schools may transfer but the ESC allocated amount will be reduced accordingly.
The amount of an ESC grant will not be given to the grantee directly but to the school, he/she is currently enrolled as being stipulated on the terms and provision of the participating non-DepEd schools.
For more queries and clarification of the FAPE-ESC program, you may direct your concerns to the following:
a.) Office of the Planning Services
(02) 633 7216 and (02) 638 8634
b.) Bureau of Secondary Education
(02) 632 7586 and (02) 636 5173