THE so-called school’s educational tour to other places in what appeared to be a plain ‘junket’ in these trying times has been exposed.
Spending unreasonable amount of as much as P32,800/student for education tours for students may not be in order considering the precarious economy and hardships suffered by the poor people.
And to make this realized, the schools or students adopted the solicitation as one of the ways to raise funds for their tour.
This seems to be the reason why provincial Board Member Aldner Damalerio brought this up to the attention of his colleagues at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to summon the schools concerned to explain.
Damalerio apparently is reacting to the numerous solicitation letters from the students he did not named and the school, asking for help for their tour.
Here are the expenses expected of the activity. “Some of these educational tours range from a two-day tour costing between ₱11,850.00 to a three-day educational tour that would cost ₱12,250.00. Some tours would take five days and four nights in Ilocos, Baguio and Manila costing ₱29,300.00 per student. Some tours would cost ₱32,800.00 for a five-day, four-night stay in Baguio, Vigan, Laoag, and Manila tour,” Damalerio said in his privilege speech.
He said that they will seek clarification from these universities and colleges with regard to these specific tours of college students whether these are sanctions or approved by the different colleges and universities or even by the Commission on Higher Education.
The move was prompted since the “costs of these educational tour are charged to the personal expense of the students. And we have here several indigent letters from parents’ certificates that they cannot afford such educational tours by these universities and colleges.”
The SP has referred the matter to the education committee. (rvo)
