Brigada Eskwela starts today

CEBU, Philippines - The National Schools Repair and Maintenance Week dubbed as “Brigada Eskwela” starts today in all public elementary and secondary schools in Central Visayas.

The Department of Education has been holding this event annually since it started in 2003 to prepare for the school opening.  School year 2009-2010 officially starts on June 1.

The cleanup begin today and ends on May 22. To mark the first day, DepEd-7 will launch simultaneous motorcades in the provinces of Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental and Cebu that starts at 6 a.m.

For Cebu Province and its component city divisions, the caravan will start in Toledo City and will then go directly to Carcar where the kickoff ceremony will be held.

After the ceremony in Carcar, the caravan will proceed to Naga, Talisay, Cebu, Danao, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and will culminate in Cebu City.

Brigada Eskwela is the DepEd’s major initiative in enjoining local communities to respond to the needs of public schools and be part of the effort to improve the country’s basic education.

It works in the spirit of “bayanihan” where participants contribute in generating resources for the effort. During the whole week, volunteers take time to do minor repairs, painting and cleaning of campuses.

Since its launching in May 2003, it has already generated more than P2.5 billion worth of support-in-kind and volunteers man-hours.

In 2007, Brigada Eskwela hit a record high of 90 percent participation among school communities. DepEd hopes to increase further the rate of participation so all schools will be ready in time for the opening of class.

Among the jobs that volunteers can do for the school during the weeklong activity are repairing and repainting of roofs and gutters and repairing and cleaning of walls, ceilings, windows, doors and comfort rooms.

Volunteers could also repaint and clean the school canteen and clinic.

Water facilities and drainage system are advised to be repaired and improved. Electrical connections and lighting facilities must be replaced.

There are also masonry work, improvement of school grounds or landscape, repainting, repairing and expansion of school fencing, rehabilitation of school garden and other activities like repair of computers, books and other facilities. 

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus warned school heads yesterday against forcing students to join the Brigada Eskwela.

“The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking into complaints that some school heads are requiring their students to clean the schools during Brigada Eskwela.

Students are welcome to help their parents but their participation should not be used as prerequisite for enrolment,” said Lapus. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)