DepEd launches Brigada Eskwela 2012

I woke up early today to witness the opening of the BRIGADA ESKWELA 2012, at the school near our place – the Justo Lukban Elementary School at Paco Manila.

Brigada Eskwela or National Schools Maintenance Week started last year 2003. This program brings together teachers, parents and community members every third week of May to work together in repairing and preparing public schools for school opening.

I went to a public school in my elementary years, and I have seen and experienced the lack of proper sanitation in public schools. We also don’t have enough books in our library and some chairs and tables are useless because they are broken. With Brigada Eskwela, these problems can be resolved in the spirit of Bayanihan. During the week-long event, volunteers take time out in doing minor repairs, painting, and cleaning of school campuses.

I am surprised to know that Brigada Eskwela does not accept cash donations. What it needs are volunteers who can help them paint the classrooms, repairs the chairs and tables, fix the leaking roofs and faucets, as well as cement the walkways and spruce up the garden and surroundings. They solicit repairs and cleaning materials and other non-cash assistance.

DepEd can use the saved expenses from labor and maintenance of the school facilities to other things like: additional classrooms, text books and hiring more teachers that the children need the most.

To inspire the community to participate and help boost the morale of the volunteers, different sectors opened the programs : LGU and Barangay officials, DepED district/division officials, PTCA and School Governing Council members, Private Sectors.

Br. Armin A. Luistro (DepEd Secretary)

The event was attended by prominent people like: Dr. Ponciano A. Menguito (the one on the right wearimg yellow) Hon. Amado S. Bagatsing (the one in red at the middle) Mr. Ricardo de Guzman (representative of Mayor Alfredo Lim- the one in yellow at the left)

Teachers, Parents and Volunteers attended the event

To guarantee the school children of an environment conducive to learning, Brigada Eskwela is a year round undertaking. I salute DepEd for having this kind of program. This will help more children to go to schools that can provide a quality of education.