Brigada Eskwela to focus on sanitation, schools in Indigenous Peoples communities

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has slated this year’s National Schools Maintenance Week, more popularly known as the “Brigada Eskwela” week, where public schools tap their respective surrounding community to clean and prepare their schools for the new school year, this May 21 to May 26.

DepEd said that the 2012 Brigada Eskwela will focus on sanitation and in improving the schools of indigenous communities.

Education Secretary Armin Luisto said the major thrusts of the 2012 Brigada Eskwela is the improvement of toilets and wash facilities — to give emphasis on the importance of school sanitation and hygiene.

“Our thrust in this year’s Brigada Eskwela is on school sanitation because it is also where personal hygiene is reinforced among our students which can, in turn, help develop their self-esteem,” Luistro added.

DepEd also enjoins the Brigada Eskwela participants to help improve the schools of indigenous communities.

“As one of the underserved sectors, the schools catering to IPs should be a priority in the repair and cleanup activities,” Luistro explained.

Brigada Eskwela mobilizes parents, teachers, students, civic and business groups, local government units, non-government units and other community residents in repairing and sprucing up of schools two weeks before the opening of classes in June.

Luistro had earlier set the first day of school year 2012-2013 on June 4.

The bayanihan spirit which the Brigada helps rekindle also encourages all sectors to be stakeholders in education.

DepEd will launch the Brigada Eskwela week a motorcade from the department’s central office complex along Meralco Avenue in the Ortigas business district in Pasig at 6 a.m. en route to the public school where the clean-up drive will officially kickoff.

Brigada Eskwela enjoins participants to donate construction and cleaning materials or serve as volunteers. It does not accept cash donations.

To date, it has generated an equivalent amount of over P2 billion from donations in kind and man-hours spent in school repairs which would have otherwise been taken from the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of public schools.

All of the 45,000 public elementary and secondary schools nationwide are mandated to take part in the Brigada Eskwela week.

Small to large companies unite for Brigada Eskwela

The spirit of volunteerism and bayanihan are very much alive in this year’s National Schools Maintenance Week, widely known as Brigada Eskwela.

All over the country, students, teachers, parents, and volunteers are all geared up to prepare and repair classrooms and other facilities in public schools for the opening of classes on June 4.

In sync with this national activity, the corporate-led Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) has started to mobilize its member companies ranging from small to large businesses to take heed of the call to support Brigada Eskwela ’12.

As a response, volunteer employees from Accenture, Deloitte, and Victory Liner among others dedicate their weekend for the preparation of Maliksi Elementary School in Bacoor, Cavite.

Maliksi ES is a PBSP-assisted school which has 2,548 pupils and 60 teachers and staff. Citibank/Citi Foundation, through United Way Worldwide, has already constructed a four-classroom building in the school. Meanwhile, Hershey’s Philippines recently distributed snack bags to students.

In addition, Modern Glass/Salome Tan Foundation, Goodwill Bookstore, Henlin, and CDO Foodsphere provided cash and in-kind donations.

Preparations for the opening of classes included painting of roofs and exterior walls; gardening; cementing of existing footways and drains; and repairing or replacing of leaking water pipes, ceiling boards, old chairs and desks, broken windows, doors, and school signs.

Brigada Eskwela has a good track of accomplishments since its launch in 2003. It was kicked off to rally the support of the private sector in the Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) or Republic Act 8525.

Last year, PBSP was able to raise P1.67 million worth of cash and in-kind donations from 57 donor companies to implement the foundation’s educational programs. This year, the pooled funds will be used to support 30 underserved schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

RA 8525 “allows private entities to assist public schools, whether elementary, secondary, or tertiary...” Provided assistance includes, but is not limited to, “staff and faculty development for training and further education; construction of facilities; upgrading of existing facilities, provision of books, publications and other instructional materials; and modernization of instructional technologies.”