MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has enlisted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe alleged anomalies in the Senior High School (SHS) voucher program, including the misuse of public funds through “ghost students” and undocumented beneficiaries in private schools.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara assured full cooperation with the NBI’s independent investigation and vowed stricter oversight to prevent fraud.
“We will ensure that the SHS Voucher Program remains a tool for educational access, not a loophole for fraud. We are strengthening safeguards, reinforcing accountability, and making sure only rightful beneficiaries receive assistance,” Angara said.
To tighten monitoring, DepEd has enhanced its Voucher Management System (VMS) and Learner Information System (LIS) with stricter verification and multi-layered cross-checking. Schools flagged for discrepancies in billing and LIS records will have payments withheld until issues are resolved.
An upgraded LIS audit feature will also track and alert changes in student records via email.
Beyond the NBI probe, Angara pledged to work with lawmakers and other government agencies to prevent similar incidents, authorizing the DepEd Executive Committee to pursue legal and administrative actions.
DepEd remains committed to transparency and holding accountable those responsible for the irregularities.
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