Quezon City | February 25, 2026 – The Department of Education (DepEd), through its Private Education Office (PEO), conducted the Final Policy Walkthrough on the Draft Government Recognition of Private Basic Education Institutions Offering the Senior High School (SHS) Program, hosted by DepEd NCR.
The policy session, facilitated by Vernice Lorraine D. Quintana, Director III of the Private Education Office, brought together representatives of Private Education Associations (PEAs) to review and validate the final draft of the proposed issuance prior to its official release.
The walkthrough marks the culmination of months of stakeholder consultations, field validations, and revisions. According to DepEd, the policy aims to ensure clarity, operational feasibility, and alignment with current implementation realities, particularly in light of reforms under the strengthened Senior High School framework.
Clear Transition Timeline for Private Senior High Schools
A central feature of the final draft is the establishment of a structured transition period:
- SY 2026–2027 will serve as a transition year, during which all private SHSs must secure Government Recognition.
- Beginning SY 2027–2028, only recognized private SHSs will be eligible to accept Grade 11 beneficiaries under the SHS Voucher Program.
This linkage between recognition and voucher eligibility underscores DepEd’s commitment to quality assurance and accountability within the private education sector.
Grant of Automatic Recognition
The draft policy also outlines provisions for automatic Government Recognition, provided institutions have no adverse findings in either the SHS Voucher Program (VP) or the ESC Program from SY 2022–2023 to SY 2025–2026.
Eligible schools include:
- FAAP-accredited SHS providers
- SHS providers with FAAP-accredited JHS
- SHS providers with PEAC-certified JHS
- SHS providers certified under the SHS Voluntary Certification (SHS-VC)
- Strengthened SHS Program Pilot Schools included in the official list
These provisions recognize existing accreditation and certification mechanisms as indicators of compliance with DepEd’s Quality Assurance Framework.
Focus on Quality Assurance and Governance
The day-long program opened with a presentation of an overview of the proposed SHS Government Recognition Policy, followed by structured consultative discussions covering:
- Documentary requirements, eligibility, and submission protocols
- Validation, evaluation, and inspection processes
- Decision-making procedures and transition provisions
- Monitoring systems, sanctions, governance roles, and evaluation tools
The discussions emphasized alignment with the DepEd Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring that recognition processes are transparent, evidence-based, and supportive of institutional improvement rather than merely regulatory compliance.
CEAP Participation
Representing the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) were Executive Director Narcy Ador Dionisio and Ma. Theresa Punzalan, Principal of Holy Angel University and member of the CEAP National Basic Education Commission (CEAP-NBEC).
CEAP’s participation reflects the continued engagement of Catholic private schools in shaping regulatory reforms that affect SHS operations nationwide.
Toward Responsible Implementation
The Final Policy Walkthrough concluded with synthesis, agreements, and next steps, reaffirming DepEd’s collaborative approach in finalizing the issuance.
As the SHS program continues to evolve, the proposed Government Recognition policy seeks to balance regulatory rigor with institutional support, ensuring that private Senior High Schools operate within a coherent framework of quality, accountability, and sustainability.
The final issuance is expected following the completion of validation with Private Education Associations.