THE Department of Education (DepEd) has approved a P6,000 increase in the annual Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) for qualified private school teachers under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program.
During the ceremonial signing on Thursday evening, July 31, 2025, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the subsidy will increase from the current P18,000 to P24,000 per teacher annually starting School Year 2025–2026, following an ad referendum approval by the State Assistance Council (SAC), the policy-making body that oversees GASTPE.
Angara said the move aims to support and recognize the essential contributions of private school teachers to the country’s education landscape and the broader mission of national development.
He noted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement that the country’s education system is among the administration’s top priorities.
Angara added that the increase is also a decisive step toward addressing the compensation disparities between public and private school teachers.
The TSS covers teachers in schools participating in the Education Service Contracting (ESC) scheme who are licensed educators, employed full-time by a participating private school, and teaching ESC grantees for at least three hours a week. This ensures that the subsidy directly benefits teachers contributing to the academic success of students under the government’s assistance program.
Angara also underscored the importance of continued partnerships with local government units, development partners, and private education stakeholders in fulfilling DepEd’s commitment to quality and accessible basic education.
“Katuwang natin dito ang national government, mga LGU, development partners, at ang private education institutions,” Angara said.
(We are working together with the national government, local government units (LGUs), development partners, and private education institutions.)
“Kaya’t taos-puso ang ating pasasalamat kay PBBM sa kanyang tunay at taos-pusong malasakit sa edukasyon at sa bawat Pilipinong guro,” he added.
(That’s why we extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Bongbong Marcos for his genuine and sincere concern for education and for every Filipino teacher.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)