Voucher program for tech-voc students launched

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued the implementing guidelines of a new voucher program for public senior high school students enrolled in the technical-vocational-livelihood (TVL) track.

The new program, called the Joint Delivery Voucher Program for Senior High School Technical Vocational and Livelihood Specializations (JDVP-TVL), will provide tuition assistance that will allow Grade 12 public school students to enroll in qualified private or non-DepEd institution.

Under the program, beneficiaries will receive a voucher amounting P12,550 that will cover training costs of 320 hours per learner in any one or a combination of any of the four TVL specializations earlier identified by the DepEd.

It will cover the tuition and miscellaneous expenses for the TVL training to complete the applicable specializations for Grade 12 as well as subsidy for one national certification assessment.

“This JDVP-TVL is designed to optimize TVL learning by allowing senior high school students enrolled in public schools to avail themselves of vouchers and take their TVL specializations in eligible partner institutions from either private or non-DepEd public senior high schools as well as technical-vocational institutions offering their desired specializations,” the implementing guidelines read.

The voucher program will cover Grade 12 students in public schools, “which have been identified as having inadequate facilities, equipment, tools and teachers with regard to the implementation of TVL specialization.”

Partner institutions may be private schools or other non-DepEd institutions that have the necessary resources, such as teachers, workshops, tools and equipment to administer the program for TVL students enrolled in public schools.

These institutions must be located within an eight-kilometer radius from a public senior high school deemed qualified to be under the program.

Those beyond eight kilometers may be considered, provided they have available mobile TVL laboratories, free dormitories for students and accident insurance coverage for the learners.

The new voucher program will be implemented starting this school year.