Section 7June 10, 1989, Sec./Art. 7

Expansion of the Existing Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Scheme. - (a) The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) shall continue to enter into contracts with private schools whereby the Government shall shoulder the tuition and other fees of excess students in public high schools who shall enroll under this program. It shall settle all outstanding obligations before contracting new obligations.

(b) The Department shall also enter into contract with private schools in communities where there are no public high schools, in which case the Department shall shoulder the tuition and other fees of students who shall enroll in said private schools. The number of such schools assisted by the program will be increased every year such that all schools in this category will be assisted within four (4) years from the promulgation of this Act.

(c) The amount of assistance to be given by the Government under this Section shall not exceed that determined as the per student cost in public high schools.

(d) The Department shall fully pay the subsidized amount to participating schools not later than the end of the schoolyear, unless the delay incurred is attributable to the participating schools.

(e) The amount of assistance shall be allocated and distributed among the fourteen (14) regions in proportion to the total population as well as the high school age population for the first school year: Provided, That starting school year 1990, an equalization scheme shall be implemented by the State Assistance Council.