GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUBSIDIES PROGRAMS IN COVID-19 – Brimestone Academy Inc.
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned
- The Department of Education (DepEd) upholds the right of every Filipino to quality basic education by providing access whether through public or private educational institutions. DepEd, pursuant to its constitutional mandate, maintains and supports a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society. As such, it exercises reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions in the basic education sector.
- Dep Ed recognizes the complementary roles of public and private educational institutions in the educational system. In support of this, the Department implements several programs under Government Assistance and Subsidies (GAS). Through the GAS programs, DepEd provides financial support aimed at ensuring that private education remains a viable option for learners. This contributes to the overall goal of improving access to quality basic education.
- Given the unprecedented crisis brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic, existing policies on private school regulation as well as guidelines on GAS programs must be reviewed, and if necessary, amended to be relevant and responsive to the needs of private schools, learners, and teachers, in support of basic education continuity amid the pandemic. The effects of the continuing COVID-19 Pandemic are expected to pose a significant challenge to the operations of private schools and the continued participation of schools, learners, and teachers in the GAS programs, namely: the Education Service Contracting (ESC) Program, Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) Program, and Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP). In view of this, DepEd Order (DO) No. 039, s. 2020 titled Special Provisions on Private School Voluntary Closures and Participation in Government Assistance and Subsidies Programs in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic (Amends Certain Provisions of DepEd Order No. 88, s. 2010) was issued effective School Year (SY) 2020-2021 only.
- Given the continuing effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the education sector, these special provisions are issued to amend pertinent provisions of DO 88, s. 2010 titled 2010 Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education, as amended by DO 11, s. 2011 of the Amendments to the 2010 Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education, and existing issuances on GAS programs, and extend assistance to beneficiaries of the GAS programs, effective this SY 2021- 2022.
- Sections 35, 36, and 43 of DO 88, s. 2010, as amended, specifically on the voluntary closure of private schools and the implications of the voluntary closure on their authority to operate, are amended and clarified as follows:
a. A private school that intends to voluntarily suspend operations for SY 202 1- 2022 shall submit a Notice of Temporary Closure to the DepEd Regional Office supervising its area by January 31, 2022. A school that suspends operations for SY 2021 – 2022 but does not comply with the requirements for Temporary Closure by March 31, 2022, shall be assumed to be permanently closed, and the corresponding provisions on Permanent Closure will apply.
b. The Notice of Temporary Closure shall clearly indicate that the school will not operate only for SY 2021-2022, and shall contain the following:
i. clearly articulated reason/ s for the one-year suspension of operations;
ii. evidence that parents/ guardians and learners were properly informed of the temporary closure, such as a virtual assembly that was called by the school or the school sending a letter/ circular via email;
iii. action taken/ arrangements made to assist parents/ guardians, learners, and school personnel affected by the temporary closure (e.g., mapping of nearby schools where the learners can transfer to); and
iv. plan for the resumption of operations in SY 2022-2023.
c. The private school shall work closely and actively with the DepEd Regional Office in facilitating the transfer of records of learners affected by the Temporary Closure as well as other arrangements necessary for a smooth transition and that will ensure affected stakeholders are not unduly disenfranchised by the temporary closure.
d. A private school with Government Recognition that subjects itself to Temporary Closure in SY 2020-2021 and/ or SY 2021-2022 shall not lose its Government Recognition, provided, that it resumes operations in SY 2022-2023 and continues to satisfy the requirements for Government Recognition.
e. A private school with a Permit to Operate that subjects itself to Temporary Closure in SY 2020-2021 and/ or SY 2021-2022 shall have its Permit to Operate automatically renewed, provided, that it resumes operations in SY 2022-2023 and continues to satisfy the requirements for issuance of a Permit to Operate.
f. Private schools that will temporarily close this SY 2021-2022 and reopen next school year are required to submit a letter to the Regional Office signifying their intent to resume operations in SY 2022 – 2023 no late r than March 31, 2022. For private schools with a Permit to Operate, such communication will trigger the issuance by the Regional Office of a renewed Permit to Operate, effective for SY 2022-2023, provided that the school continues to satisfy the requirements for issuance of a Permit to Operate.
g. Private schools that did not operate in SY 2020-2021 and will still not operate in SY 2021-2022 must undergo the same abovementioned process for Temporary Closure in SY 2021-2022.
h. Private schools that will not operate for more than two school years starting SY 2020-2021 shall be guided by the provisions on Permanent Closure in DO 88, s. 2010, as amended, and other applicable DepEd guidelines.
(Source: DO_s2022_002.pdf (deped.gov.ph))
DO_s2022_002