DepEd lifts no-field-trips order, issues guidelines
The Department of Education (DepEd) has lifted the moratorium on educational field trips with the issuance of new implementing guidelines on the conduct of off-campus activities for all public and private elementary and secondary schools.
This order was issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd Order No. 66 series of 2017 issued last December 27. It announced that the DepEd Memorandum No. 47 series of 2017 or the “Moratorium on Educational Field trips and Other Similar Activities” has been lifted upon the effectivity of guidelines on the conduct of co-curricular and extracurricular off-campus activities for both public and private schools nationwide.
Briones said that the new guidelines are issued “in support of the K to 12 curriculum implementation.” She also stressed that “all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities” should adhere to the new guidelines set by the DepEd.
Particularly, all public and private schools are asked to “ensure relevance and alignment with the educational competencies of the K to 12 Curriculum and leadership development of learners.”
The order also asked that schools “uphold child protection principles and that no learner shall be disadvantaged in any form;” and “observe the safety and security protocols for all participants before, during and after the activity.”
Voluntary only DepEd said participation in co and extra-curricular activities will be voluntary. “No learner shall be required to participate in any off-campus activity,” DepEd stressed.
The guidelines also directed that “all co-curricular and extra-curricular shall have no grade requirement.” Likewise, “all non-participating learners shall not be required with any special projects and/or examination or any form of school requirements.”
It was noted that the school head “shall ensure that off-campus activities will, in no way, disrupt classes.”
Travel insurance will now be mandatory. DepEd said “securing travel insurance is mandatory for all off-campus activities” thus, “no one shall be allowed to join off-campus activities without travel insurance.”
Safety is priority DepEd underscored the need to prepare for off-campus activities particularly on planning, safety and security measures, site selection for field trips or educational trips, service providers, provision for learners with special needs, parents/guardian conference and predeparture briefing.
To ensure the participants’ safety, DepEd directed all schools and other concerned offices to “prepare a plan and seek approval of concerned authorities.” The said plan “should take into account the learners’ diversity, context, and needs.”
Parents are requested to have an “active involvement in the planning of off-campus activities.”
Private schools, on the other hand, may also “adopt their own planning process to ensure that off-campus activities are aligned with the curriculum and will help attain educational competencies.”
Among the safety and security measures to be observed during the offcampus activity is the “buddy system” and the wearing of safety and emergency card with the learners’ emergency contact details, among other information.
During the activity proper, DepEd said that involved stakeholders should observe the guidelines “with due diligence” – particularly following school rules; inspection of vehicle; signing a manifest before leaving the school premises and upon return to school; tracking or head count; briefing upon arrival; close supervision of learners, and post-activity vehicle check. DepEd also stressed that learners who join an off-campus activity will only be dropped off at the designated waiting area in school. “Elementary learners shall not be allowed to leave school premises without their fetchers.”
DepEd warned that “any violation of abuse of the said Order” shall be dealt with accordingly.
The newly established guidelines, standards and procedures in the conduct of off-campus activities involving learners, teachers and relevant offices, DepEd said, should also help ensure that the participants get “maximize gains from such activity and ensure its alignment with the overall learning outcomes.”