BAGUIO CITY – Department of Education–Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) Director May Eclar clarified matters as to the lifting of the moratorium on off-campus activities or so-called field trips.
Off-campus activities were suspended when some college students on a field trip from Tanay, Rizal died in a vehicular accident, February last year.
Eclar made the pronouncement during the Kapihan news forum attended by officials of DepEd, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), last Wednesday.
Eclar cited Dep-Ed order 66, series of 2017 as to guidelines for the conduct of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities for public and private schools. All off-campus activities such as subject competitions and olympiads, or the forthcoming festival of talents should be anticipated, thus included in the annual school plan or calendar, and done in coordination with teachers and parents.
Planned off-campus activities are approved by the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS), and should not be a fund-raising event, Eclar said.
Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities should be relevant and aligned with the K to 12 competencies in order to develop learners’ leadership skills, Dep-Ed order 66 states.
“No learner shall be disadvantaged in any form,” and that child protection principles are upheld (during off-campus activities), Eclar said, from the DepEd order issued by Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, Dec. 27 last year.
Safety and security protocol for all participants before, during and after the activity, should be observed, DepEd order 66 further states. Parents are encouraged to be involved in off-campus events, Eclar also said.
A post-activity assessment of learnings should be conducted for students, it was also known.
All earlier orders, related issuances or other provisions are rescinded and modified accordingly. **juliegfianza
