DepEd warns schools vs. overloading during off-campus trips

MANILA — An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded public and private schools to ensure the safety and security of learners during off-campus activities.

In a television interview on Thursday, DepEd Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said that schools must observe the guidelines on conducting off-campus activities as stated in DepEd Order 66 series of 2017.

This, after Sevilla watched a footage of preschoolers loaded and made to stand at the back portion of an AUV due to lack of seats in the vehicle. The overloading incident happened in front of a mall in Manila City on Wednesday.

“We really are not happy na nakikita natin ang mga estudyante na nahihirapan ng ganito (to see that the students are having a difficult time like this),” she said.

Sevilla instructed the concerned DepEd regional director to request an explanation from the administrator of the school where the preschoolers study.

“They admitted that this happened, parang ma-traffic at hindi na raw masundo yung ibang bata ng ibang sasakyan kaya pinilit nila pagkasyahin sa isang sasakyan lamang (it seems that there was heavy traffic and some students were not fetched by other vehicles so they opted to load them in one vehicle only),” she said.

Sevilla said the teachers and adults involved in the incident have violated DepEd Order 66 series of 2017.

“Nakalagay dito na ang number of participants o yung mga estudyante na ating ilalabas ay dapat nagkakasya, kung ano man ang sitting capacity. Overloading na ang tawag natin dito, lalo na’t nakita natin sa video na nakatayo sa likod ng sasakyan ang mga bata at hindi nakaupo (It is stated here that the number of participants or students who will be taken out should fit in a vehicle. This is overloading, especially in the video. The kids are standing at the back of the vehicle instead of sitting) Dito (Here), we are risking the safety and security of the learners. So, this is a clear violation of our department order,” she said.

Since the concerned school is private, Sevilla said the parents of the preschoolers must file the complaint regarding the incident. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)