UMVA has learned that a critical call has been made for the swift approval of a landmark education bill, with advocates warning that the future of millions of students hangs in the balance.
The Private Education Assistance Committee has sounded the alarm, stating that the proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act is essential to alleviate financial strains on educational institutions and ensure the integrity of the country's basic education system.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the bill aims to expand the voucher system to eligible students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, redirecting them to private schools and decongesting overcrowded public schools, with some areas facing extreme classroom congestion.
Data shows that classroom congestion is a pressing issue, particularly at the high school level, with over 60 students per classroom, and regions like Sulu, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Basilan facing alarmingly high congestion rates.
The proposed expansion prioritizes students from congested public schools, low-income households, and disadvantaged sectors, including those in geographically isolated areas, Indigenous Peoples, and 4Ps beneficiaries, who may receive higher voucher amounts.
For countless families struggling with poverty, the Basic Education Voucher Program is seen as a lifeline, and a concrete expression of the government's commitment to a diverse, robust, and resilient education system that serves all learners.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the bill has already gained significant traction, with Senate Bill No. 1981 approved on third reading last month, and now advocates are urging both Houses of Congress to put aside political differences and expedite the legislative process.
The group has called on leaders to convene the Bicameral Conference Committee without delay and approve this vital piece of legislation, warning that history will remember whether courage was chosen over convenience, and country over politics.
