COA: DepEd’s Senior High School voucher program included ghost studentsThe photo of the Commission on Audit's office in Quezon CIty. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the inclusion of “ghost students” in the Department of Education (DepEd)’s Senior High School Voucher Program or SHS-VP. The COA said there were also VPBs listed multiple times in the same school or in different voucher program-participating senior high schools. The COA said this defeated the primary purpose of the GASTPE-SHS VP, which provides financial assistance to indigent SHS students enrolled in private schools. Vice President Sara Duterte was the concurrent secretary of DepEd from June 30, 2022 until her resignation on July 19, 2024.

Source: Philippine Star December 26, 2025 16:34 UTC