By Billy Begas
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure regulating off-campus activities to ensure that these are aligned with the educational competencies in the curriculum.
Voting 202 affirmative, six negative, and no abstention vote, the House approved the proposed Off-Campus Education Act (House Bill 8737).
Under the measure, all off-campus educational activities should be relevant and aligned with the educational competencies of the curriculum and should contribute to the enhancement of the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, and values of the learners.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) were tasked to consult with the Department of Tourism, National Museum of the Philippines, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and other relevant government agencies, in accrediting the venues and destinations where the educational institutions may conduct their off-campus activities.
The measure penalizes educational institution that will conduct its off-campus educational activities outside those accredited venues and destinations or hire a service provider that are not accredited by DepEd or CHED.
The penalty will be P50,000 for the first offense, P100,000 fine and suspension of all off-campus educational activities for not less than six months for the second offense.
If the educational institution is a public school, college or university, the fine shall be imposed against the school head, principal, superintendent or president and other officials directly responsible for the violation.
The measure also penalizes a service provider who failed to exercise the degree of care and vigilance required by law or that justly demanded by the circumstances, causes loss, damage, or injury to the participants of the off-campus educational activity.
The penalty is P150,000 fine and suspension of accreditation for one year for the first offense and P300,000 fine and revocation of accreditation for the following offense.
The penalty shall be without prejudice to the filing of any administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities.
