INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered why private schools exist and why students, even before, chose to enroll in
different private schools? Well, studies show that every year, there is an increase in the number of
students entering public schools due to their incapacity to pay high tuition fees in private schools.
Primarily, this is the reason why public schools are established: to help the poor Filipinos who desire
to attain such a level of literacy. However, because of the increasing growth in their population, there
is a big dilemma in terms of accommodating the students. This results in the problem that these public
schools can no longer accommodate the majority of students. It is unfortunate to say that public
schools could no longer accept more students because of a lack of resources and facilities such as
classrooms, desks, textbooks, and even teachers. In short, there have been too few resources for too
many students who are in need of necessary attention. To address the situation, certain house bills
were put into law, such as Republic Act Number 6728, or what is most commonly known as the
GASTPE Act, or the government assistance to students and teachers in private education Act, wherein
it offers many opportunities for the poor students who cannot afford to study in private schools;
hence, they are no longer limited to public schools; rather, they are encouraged and given the chance
to study in such private schools by providing them with financial assistance through tuition fee
supplements. However, there is still a need to further improve the system and increase the amount of
assistance to students, grantees, and teachers by amending some parts of the GASTPE law so that it
can become more responsive to the needs of the students, the teachers, and the schools. And that is
what we are going to tackle today: Republic Act Number 8545, or the Expanded Government
Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, or what is commonly known as the E-
GASTPE Law.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8545 or Amendments to the GASTPE ACT

• According to Britanicca.com, amendment, in government and law, is an addition or alteration

(change) made to a constitution, statute, or legislative bill or resolution designed to improve a
particular piece of legislation.

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6728, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN PRIVATE EDUCATION AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,” ESTABLISHING A FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSIDIZING
SALARIES OF PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUND THEREFOR

• This program enables eligible students to pursue secondary schooling in private schools through
the provision of a fixed annual subsidy (Subsidy is a sum of money granted by the government) to
cover tuition and other school fees.

WHAT IS R.A. NO. 8545 FOR?

• The purpose of this law is to provide financial assistance for students and teachers in private
education in order to promote equality and quality of education that is accessible to all and also give
importance to the teaching profession. And also to decongest public schools.
DECONGEST- to ease crowding or clogging in (an area) para mabawasan ang pagsisiksikan.

SECTION 3. CRITERIA FOR ASSISTANCE

• Tuition fees charged by the schools

• Socioeconomic needs of each region giving priority SRA (Social Reform Agenda)

The Social Reform Agenda (SRA), formally launched in September 1994, constitutes government's
to poverty.

• Overall performance of the schools (Students Achievements)

• Academic Qualifications (Diploma, Certificate, Bachelor’s degree)

• Financial needs of the students and the teachers

• Financial needs of the schools

• Geographic spread and size of student population

• Student’s family income not more than ₱72,000.00

• “The programs of assistance under this Act shall be extended only to students who are citizens of the
Philippines.”

SECTION 4. FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

The following are forms of assistance to students in private education:

1. Tuition fee supplements for students in private high schools, including students in vocational and
technical courses; ( A Vocational course is focused on practical work, preparing students for a
particular trade or skilled profession. Ex. Agriculture, Culinary arts, Computer technician) ( Technical
course means a unit of learning which yields skills, knowledge , and appreciation essential to the
specific occupation for which the program designed. Ex. Engineering, Web design, data science)

2. High School Textbook Assistance Fund. PROVIDED

3. Expansion of the existing Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Scheme

• The government shall shoulder the tuition and other fees of high school students who shall enroll in
private high schools under this program.

4. The voucher system of the Private Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PESFA);

• The scholarship provides financial assistance to students who are pursuing a technical vocational
education and training program in a private institution. The PESFA Scholarship aims to help students
from low-income families who are unable to afford the cost of technical education.
5. Scholarship grants to students graduating as valedictorians and salutatorians from secondary
schools;

6. Tuition fee supplements to students in private colleges and universities; and

7. Educational Loan Fund.

• A sum of money borrowed to finance post-secondary education or higher education-related

expenses. Education loans are intended to cover the cost of tuition, books, and supplies, and living
expenses while the borrower is in the process of pursuing a degree.

The following are forms of assistance to teachers and faculty in private education:

1. In-service training fund for teachers in private high schools; and

• shall be available only to qualified licensed teachers in participating private high schools.

2. College Faculty Development Fund.

• For the purpose of improving the quality of teaching in private secondary education.

What amendments to RA 6728 are made by Republic Act No 8545?

One of the many legislations which broadens access to education is RA 6728, as amended by RA 8545,
which provides government assistance to students and teachers in the private education in the form of
supplements in their tuition fees. ( Additional Support or pandagdag sa school expenses )

What is the significance of RA NO. 8545 to Students and Teachers?

• Republic Act 6728 and its expanded coverage through Republic Act 8545 were enacted to provide
government assistance to students and teachers in private education in recognition of the
government's constitutional mandate to maintain a system of grants, subsidies, and incentives to
students in both public and private learning institutions.

Approved: February 24, 1998

At present, Republic Act 8545 or the E-GASTPE Law grants tuition fee supplements only to
students in private junior and senior high schools. Likewise, only teachers in private junior
and senior high schools are benefited from the Teacher’s Salary Subsidy Fund created in the
said Law.