DepEd stops search for best ‘Brigada’ implementers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) will no conduct the search for the best implementers of the “Brigada Eskwela” last year.

DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo recently issued a memorandum revising the implementing guidelines for the agency’s school opening preparation program conducted before the start of school year 2022-2023.

“The implementing guidelines and selection criteria… shall not be in effect. There will be no certificate of recognition given to school heads and teachers, which has corresponding points for outstanding accomplishment for the purpose of promotion and office/individual performance,” read the memorandum.

Instead, all elementary and secondary schools that implemented “Brigada Eskwela” last year will receive a certificate of recognition for their compliance and engaging with partners to support efforts to prepare schools for the opening of classes.

The DepEd said that schools division superintendents are still allowed to “exercise their sound discretion as to how they will recognize the schools with exemplary implementation of Brigada Eskwela.”

Two other special awards were supposed to be given this year: Brigada Pagbasa Advocacy Award and Functional Home Learning Spaces Award.

No explanation yet has been given regarding DepEd’s decision to remove the search.

Ahead of the school opening last year, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte issued the 2022 Brigada Eskwela guidelines, which introduced year-round programs seeking community engagement to improve student performance.