Philippines: Government to Improve Private Schools

President Benigno S. Aquino III has vowed to improve the private school system in the country to solve the congestion of enrollees in public schools. In his speech at the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2010 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, Aquino said improving the private school system through the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) will give parents an alternative for their children studying in public schools.

The program gives financial assistance to poor but deserving students for them to be able to enroll in private schools. Aquino expressed support to the National Competency-Based Teachers Standards of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in a move to improve further the competency of teachers.