With the current school year set to end on May 31, multiple Facebook (FB) pages are spreading a graphic claiming that the Department of Education (DepEd) is offering cash assistance for graduating students.
This is fake. There has been no such announcement in the DepEd’s official website and social media channels.
Posted as early as April 26, one graphic bearing a photo of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio, and the DepEd’s official seal carried the text:
“Deparment (sic) of Education Cash Assistance S.Y. 2024. Announcement: sagot na ng DepEd ang graduation expenses mo, mag-register online. Elementary 5000, High School 6000, College 7000. Proof of graduation only ang kaylangan. APPLY NOW!
(Department of Education Cash Assistance S.Y. 2024. Announcement: The DepEd will shoulder your graduation expenses, register online. Elementary P5,000, High School P6,000, College P7,000. Proof of graduation is the only requirement. Apply now!)
Meanwhile, another graphic claimed that the education department will provide a P7,000 financial assistance for graduating students for the upcoming school year 2024-2025.
These are scams. The DepEd has no financial assistance program specifically catering to graduation expenses, and has also repeatedly disowned fictitious scholarship posts circulating online.
The posts also contained links that redirect users to a phishing website that steals their personal information.
Currently, the education department lists three assistance programs on its website: the Educational Service Contracting Program for Grades 7-10, the Senior High School Voucher Program for Grades 11 and 12, and the Joint Delivery Voucher Program for Grade 12 students enrolled in the Technical-Vocational Livelihood Track.
Meanwhile, government financial assistance for college students is managed by the Commission on Higher Education, not the DepEd.
VERA Files Fact Check has debunked fake scholarship posts several times. (Read: FAKE DepEd scholarship posts a bait for crypto scams and FAKE ‘DOLE scholarship 2024’ online applications)
Uploaded by FB pages Philippine Scholarship, PRC News and Updates and DSWD LandBank Pay out, the scam posts have collectively drawn over 2,000 interactions.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
