CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas gets 28,000 slots of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe) program of the Department of Education (DepEd) which is aimed at giving assistance to poor and deserving students who want to enroll in private high schools.
DepEd 7 Chief Carmelita Dulangon said the government will shoulder P6, 500 of the annual tuition fee of each student who will avail of the program.
Teachers in private schools handling classes of Gastpe beneficiaries will also get a P1,000 subsidy.
Dulangon said the program will greatly help the parents since they will no longer be paying the entire amount of the tuition fee.
There are 99 private schools in Central Visayas that increased their tuition fees this year.
To avail of the program, those interested may visit GASTPE-accredited schools like the University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, University of the Visayas or go to the DepEd Office for their queries.
Meanwhile, Dulangon encourages parents to always maintain good grooming of their children and prepare nutritious food.
“Unta ang mga ginikanan, pabawnan gyud ug mga sustansiya nga mga pagkaon ang ilang mga anak ug dili lang kwarta, kay magpataka lang unya ug pamalit ang ilang mga anak nga mao na unya’y hinungdan nga masakit sila,†Dulangon said.
She also asks vendors in the schools to also prepare nutritious food. —MBG (FREEMAN)