A total of 17,751 enrolled Grade 11 students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) might be displaced once these institutions comply with the directive made by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for them to not offer the senior high school (SHS) program next school year.

According to Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Michael Poa, those students who will be displaced have two options for the next school year: they can either enroll in public schools or private schools and avail themselves of the voucher program.

Poa mentioned that some regions, specifically the Cagayan Valley and Davao, no longer have Grade 11 students enrolled in SUCs and LUCs to prevent displacement in these areas.

He added that the voucher program will not be affected by the discontinuation of the SHS programs in SUCs and LUCs, as the incoming Grade 11 students were already accepted before the start of the school year.

In a public briefing on Wednesday, CHED Chair Prospero de Vera III stated that he will have a meeting with the DepEd officials about the possible continuation of subsidies for public universities with SHS students for the next school year.

He explained that the voucher system can be extended for at least one year for those students who are already enrolled, adding that he will check first about the board of regents' decisions.

As such, the CHED and DepEd signed an agreement for a transition period during which public universities would be permitted to allow SHS students to enroll, with the DepEd providing subsidies through a student voucher system since secondary education should be free.