The Makati City government is giving some 11,938 public pre-school and Grade 1 pupils in the city free educational field trips from Nov. 4 until Dec. 10.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the off-campus activities was in line with her Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) to promote the holistic development of students.
“We continue to support educational tours outside the school campus to enhance classroom learning with firsthand experience of the outside world. We have carefully selected our tour sites to stimulate our youths’ natural curiosity and eagerness to learn and discover, and also enable them to apply concepts and ideas learned in the classroom in a practical setting,” she said.
Binay said the tour sites scheduled for kindergarten pupils include Manila Ocean Park in Pasay City, Rizal Park and Fort Santiago.
Grade 1 pupils have been scheduled to visit and familiarize themselves with various government offices in Makati through a community tour that includes Makati City Hall, Makati City Fire Station and Makati City Police Station. They will then proceed to Kidzania Manila in Taguig City, she added.
“We have included the community tour in the program as part of the civic education of the children. Our goal is to develop a strong sense of civic duty among them. We want them to understand and appreciate the roles and functions of key government workers who serve their community, including police officers, firefighters and city hall officials and personnel,” Binay said.
The city chief executive said the children would then proceed to Kidzania Manila where they will get to play the role of a police officer, firefighter, doctor, nurse, educator, journalist, and other essential members of the community.
“We hope that the role-playing exercise will help shape their dreams for the future and inspire them to excel in their studies,” she said.
Binay also said for the safety of the students, DepEd Makati had ensured that section advisers and the school nurse will accompany the students on every trip. Each kindergarten pupil has also been allowed to bring one parent as companion.
Last July and August, some 6,000 Grade 7 students in Makati public high schools had their off-campus activity at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. They watched the informative theater show “Ibong Adarna” for free.
In 2018, some 90,044 students in Makati public schools, from preschool to senior high school, were treated to free educational field trips. Places visited included Manila Ocean Park, Luneta Park, Manila Cathedral, Kidzania, Mind Museum, Gardenia Bakeries, and other historical places.
DepEd Order No. 66, series of 2017 (Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of Off-Campus Activities), allows public schools to organize educational tours provided that these will not entail huge costs for the students and will not put their safety and security at risk.
It also mandates that all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities must be relevant and aligned with the educational competencies of the K to 12 program. Safety and security protocols must also be strictly observed for all participants.
Under the administration of Mayor Abby, Project FREE has been expanded to include free rubber shoes, rain gear for selected levels, emergency go bags, school socks, and tumblers, among others. Soon, the city will be providing nutritious meals, upgraded facilities and more benefits to public schoolchildren as part of the mayor’s vision of developing “globally competitive Makatizens” as future leaders of the nation.
