DepEd: Schools’ budget doubled in 5 years

This file photo shows a facade of the Department of Education.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The budget for public schools has doubled in five years, from P30 billion in 2022 to P61.02 billion in the proposed 2027 budget, the Department of Education said yesterday.

Included in the DepEd’s P975.96-billion budget for 2027 is the increase in school-level maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

Per-learner MOOE allocations for elementary schools will reach P2,982; junior high school, P2,744 and senior high school, P3,558. This year’s school operating funds are at P60.89 billion.

“By simplifying funding formulas and steadily expanding per-learner operational support, we are removing unnecessary bottlenecks so school administrators and teachers can focus on teaching rather than worrying about basic school upkeep,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Critics have slammed the lower budget for education in the 2027 national outlay compared to this year.