MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has revived an office that will handle the department's mandate to regulate and supervise private education and also provide technical and financial assistance to private schools.
The Private Education Office will be housed at the DepEd's Central Office on Meralco Avenue in Pasig City.
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"The PEO is created to take the lead in all matters pertaining to private education lodged in the CO pursuant to the DepEd mandate of reasonable supervision and regulation," a department order issued on March 8, read.
Private schools have been hit by lower enrollment during the pandemic as education was done by module or online as well as by changes brought about by the shift to the K-12 curriculum.
DepEd noted that through the years, there has been no dedicated unit or personnel in the central office to help the education secretary with matters related to private education.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the state recognizes the "complementary roles of public and private institutions" in the education system.
Joyce Andaya, DepEd Director IV, said this is not the first time the agency has housed a PEO.
A similar office was dissolved in 1987 due to reorganization, she told Philstar.com in an online exchange.
"One of [the current PEO's] tasks is to study whether there is a need to create a bureau. At the moment, this office is limited to the Central Office," Andaya said.
"The current structure in the field offices remains the same," she added.