Schoolkids crammed into van in Manila

A private school is in hot water because of a footage of a group of pre-school pupils crammed into a van after they attended an off-campus activity Manila.

Susan Enriquez reported on 24 Oras on Thursday that the video taken by YouScooper Dohn Narciso outside a mall on Tuesday afternoon has gone viral on social media.

The clip showed several schoolchildren loaded into the back of the van by adults in uniform, who were later identified as teachers.

The kids were huddled close together that they did not have enough space to sit. One student could be seen in the video almost falling off the vehicle.

Although it was not shown in the video, Narciso said the teachers later wedged themselves into the car as well, while one of them because there was no more space opted to just walk.

With the traffic in the area, it reportedly took at least 40 minutes to one hour to reach the school from the mall. 

Overloading

After the video was viewed by Department of Education (DepEd) officials, they called the attention of the school officials for their violation of the Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of Off-Campus Activities as stated under DepEd Order No. 66 s. 2017.

"We really are not happy na nakikita natin ang mga estudyante, ginagawa 'yung ganito," Education Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said.

GMA News had reached out to the school for comment but they declined to issue a statement at this time.

Sevilla said she a school official explained that there was no other vehicle that was available at that time.

"They are admitting that this happened and their explanation is parang ma-traffic at hindi na raw masundo 'yung mga bata ng ibang sasakyan. Kaya nila pinilit na pagkasyahin ito sa isang sasakyan lamang," Sevilla said.

She said the school did not comply with the department order, which states that the school should ensure the safety and security of all students during off-campus activities.

"Nakalagay dito, the number of participants o estudyante na ating ilalabas sa eskuwelahan, dapat nagkakasya. Kung ano lang ang sitting capacity. Overloading na ang tawag natin dito," she said.

"Lalo na itong nakita natin sa video na ang mga bata ay na sa likod ng sasakyan. Hindi nakaupo, nakatayo lang and hindi pa talagang totoong upuan," she added.

"So we are risking the security and safety of the learners and this is in violation of our department order."

The DepEd executive said since this is a private school, it is the parents of students involved in the incident who are expected to take appropriate action against the school. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News