School field trips not banned — Roco

Education Secretary Raul Roco denied yesterday that he banned educational field trips in public schools but insisted that these should not be mandatory among students.

In a press briefing, Roco said that field trips should be optional for students because they tend to discriminate againsts those who could not afford such an activity.

"Field trips somehow give a social pressure for the poor students. Making it compulsory would be like punishing a students for being poor," he noted.

Concerned parents and representatives of institutions like the National Museum, Museo Pambata, Fort Santiago Shrine have asked Roco to reconsider his ban on field trips, claiming that "learning should never have limits."

They alleged that Roco had issued a memorandum to effect the prohibition but the education chief denied this. "I never issued a memorandum. I don’t know where they got that information."

Roco only made known of his stand on field trips through his radio program over dzBB station a few weeks earlier. "What’s happening is the schools give examination based on field trips. Those who did not join would likely fall. School must give separate test for those who did not participate in the field trip," he added. — Sheila Crisostomo