How do we ensure student safety in school field trips?

IN 2014, seven tourism students of Bulacan State University drowned while participating in a field trip to Madlum Cave. The students died when a strong current swept them away while crossing the river on their way to the cave. As a result, nine school officials, including its president, were dismissed from government service by the Office of the Ombudsman for neglect in connection with the drowning of the seven students. In February 2017, fifteen students from Bestlink College, a private college in Quezon City, died when the bus carrying them to their educational trip in Rizal smashed into an electrical post. Last week, again, Bestlink College students claimed to have experienced severe problems with logistics and safety concerns when they allegedly were stranded for hours going back to Manila after attending the college founding anniversary celebration held in Bataan. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has since issued a show cause order to Bestlink College in relation to the matter.

As the administrative agency created by law to govern higher education in the Philippines, the CHED has the mandate to create guidelines for the proper implementation of curricular and non-curricular off-campus activities of colleges and universities. In the aftermath of the 2017 tragedy involving Bestlink College, the CHED immediately ordered a moratorium on all field trips until its guidelines were revisited and revised. Consequently, CHED Memorandum Order 63 series of 2017 was issued. CMO 63 provided for more comprehensive submission of paper requirements for colleges and universities prior to, during, and after the conduct of field trips and educational tours of students. CMO 63 has not been revised and remains in effect.

THE LEGAL MIND