Free field trips for Makati pupils

Some 11,938 preschool and Grade 1 pupils from Makati’s public schools are being treated to free educational field trips by the city government from 4 November until 10 December.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the off-campus activities have been made part of the city’s Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) since 2018 to promote the holistic development of students.

“We continue to support educational tours outside the school campus to enhance classroom learning with firsthand experience of the outside world. We have carefully selected our tour sites to stimulate our youths’ natural curiosity and eagerness to learn and discover, and also enable them to apply concepts and ideas learned in the classroom in a practical setting,” Binay said.

The mayor said tour sites scheduled for kindergarten pupils include Manila Ocean Park, Rizal Park and Fort Santiago in Manila. Grade 1 pupils have been scheduled to visit and familiarize themselves with various government offices in Makati through a community tour that includes Makati City Hall, Makati City Fire Station and Makati City Police Station. They will then proceed to Kidzania Manila in Taguig City, she added.

“We have included the community tour in the program as part of the civic education of the children. Our goal is to develop a strong sense of civic duty among them. We want them to understand and appreciate the roles and functions of key government workers who serve their community, including police officers, firefighters and city hall officials and personnel,” she said.

The mayor said for the safety of the students, DepEd Makati has ensured that section advisers and the school nurse will accompany the students on every trip. Each kindergarten pupil has also been allowed to bring one parent as companion.

Under Binay’s watch, Project FREE has been expanded to include free rubber shoes, rain gear for selected levels, emergency go bags, school socks, and tumblers. Soon, the city will be providing nutritious meals, upgraded facilities and more benefits to public schoolchildren as part of the mayor’s vision of developing “globally competitive Makatizens” as future leaders of the nation.

We continue to support educational tours outside the school campus to enhance classroom learning with firsthand experience of the outside world.