House OKs bill regulating off-campus school activities

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed measure seeking to regulate off-campus educational activities by public and private schools.

Voting 202-6-0, the lower chamber of Congress approved the Off-Campus Education Act. The bill aims to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism as well as to encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

The measure prescribes the following conditions for off-campus educational activities:

• Relevant and aligned with the educational competencies of the curriculum;
• Part of program requirement embodied in the approved curriculum; and

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• Contribute to the enhancement on the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, and values of the learners.

"Except when the off-campus educational activity is indispensable in the completion of program or curriculum requirements, participation in such activity shall be on a voluntary basis only," the bill read.

"In no case shall the inability to participate in the off-campus activity constitute a failure to complete any requirement or in any way put the learner at a disadvantage," it added.

Another important provision of the bill is it identifies specific places, destinations, or fields of interest that will serve as authorized venues for the undertaking of off-campus educational activities.

The measure will also give power to the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to craft specific policies that will be observed by educational institutions, students, parents, guardians, and other stakeholders involved in the off-campus activities. — DVM, GMA News