Last February, CHED enacted a ban on all off-campus field trips for colleges and universities, after a controversy surrounding a bus crash that killed 15 people, including a number of students.
About 6 months after the incident, CHED has now lifted the ban on field trips and issued additional guidelines regarding field trips and off-campus activities for college students.
Additional safety measures were enforced
Memorandum Order No. 63 was signed by CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan last July 25. The memorandum adds new guidelines that need to be followed regarding field trips.
The memorandum states: "All Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are given the authority to design, determine and approve the conduct of off-campus activities as part of a duly approved curriculum as noted by CHEd and as part of the HEI’s particular context or respective mission."
It also requires colleges and universities to conduct an inspection on the vehicles that will be used for field trips, in order to ensure that the vehicles are road worthy so that mishaps can be avoided.
Additionally, the memorandum disallows colleges and universities from imposing punishments or sanctions on students who opt not to join the field trip.
Alternatives should be provided by the school
For students who opt out of the field trips, HEIs, or Higher Education Institutions are required to provide alternative activities for the students that would serve the same purpose as the off-campus field trip.
The memorandum hopes to prevent a repeat of the incident involving students from Bestlink College of the Philippines-Novaliches, wherein their bus rammed an electric post in Tanay, Rizal, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people.
Additional controversy ensued when some parents of the students who passed away mentioned that the students were required to join the field trip, or else they would not be allowed to graduate by the college.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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