The Department of Education (DepEd) is gearing toward an orderly and safe opening of classes by making schools environmentally sustainable and conducive to learning through its Brigada Eskwela 2017.
All education stakeholders will participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources during the National Schools Maintenance Week to make public school facilities ready for learners’ use in June. Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and other DepEd officials will lead the Brigada Eskwela National Kick-off Program and Caravan on May 15 in Cebu City.
With the theme “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan,” Brigada Eskwela consists of activities that truly exhibit the spirit of shared community responsibility in providing quality basic education for all Filipino learners.
The week-long event includes a launch caravan in Regional Offices (ROs) and Schools Division Offices (SDOs) and a kick-off ceremony in a public school offering Senior High School (SHS), which will serve as the final stop of the caravan.
The regional Brigada launch will be as follows:
|
Region 1 |
May 15 |
Alaminos National High School, Pangasinan |
|
Region 2 |
May 12 |
Raniag Elementary School, Isabela |
|
Region 3 |
May 15 |
Prenza National High School, Bulacan |
|
Region 4A |
May 15 |
Jose Rizal Memorial School, Calamba, Laguna |
|
Region 4B |
May 12 |
Mogpog Covered Court, Mogpog, Marinduque |
|
Region 5 |
May 15 |
Virac Central Elementary School, Catanduanes |
|
Region 6 |
May 15 |
Cabatuan National High School, Iloilo |
|
Region 7 |
May 15 |
Cebu City (National Kick-off) |
|
Region 8 |
May 12 |
Gala Vocational School, Gamay, Northern Samar |
|
Region 9 |
May 14 |
Torno National High School, Dipolog City |
|
Region 10 |
May 15 |
Mulogan National High School, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental |
|
Region 11 |
May 15 |
Marilog National High School, Davao City |
|
Region 12 |
May 12 |
T’boli Senior High School, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato |
|
Caraga |
May 15 |
Buenavista National High School, Agusan Del Norte |
|
CAR |
May 19 |
Guinzadan National High School, Bauko, Mountain Province |
|
NCR |
May 15 |
Kapitbahayan Elementary School, Navotas City |
|
NIR |
May 13 |
Dumaguete City National High School, Dumaguete City |
|
ARMM |
May 15 |
Broce Central Elementary School, Maguindanao |
All Regional Directors and Schools Division Superintendents will mobilize their Adopt-a-School Program/Brigada Eskwela Coordinators to ensure the successful six-day implementation of Brigada Eskwela in all public elementary and secondary schools, and to ensure the involvement of the community and local stakeholders.
School heads will take the lead in planning the said activities, which include tree planting and vegetable gardening to promote the clean and green campaign of the government. Furthermore, school heads are encouraged to make the Brigada Eskwela program not just a tool to improve school facilities but to step up community contribution in the continuous and shared responsibility of providing quality basic education.
Search for Brigada Eskwela Best Implementing Schools
To recognize schools that are effectively implementing the program, the DepEd-External Partnerships Service (EPS) will lead the Search for Brigada Eskwela Best Implementing Schools.
The categories are as follows:
Elementary Level
|
Category |
Number of Teachers (National) |
Number of Teachers (NCR) |
|
Small School |
9 and below |
40 and below |
|
Medium School |
10 – 29 |
41-80 |
|
Large School |
30-50 |
81-120 |
|
Mega School |
51 and above |
121 and above |
Secondary Level
|
Category |
Number of Teachers (National) |
Number of Teachers (NCR) |
|
Small School |
9 and below |
40 and below |
|
Medium School |
10 – 25 |
41 – 80 |
|
Large School |
26 -100 |
81 – 120 |
|
Mega School |
101 and above |
121 and above |
Note: Integrated School (Kinder to Grade 12) may choose which category level they intend to participate in the selection.
Brigada Eskwela Plus
The Brigada Eskwela Plus will be the mechanism to elevate the level of participation, the amount of resources generated, the number of volunteer turnout, and the level of awareness on the valuable role of communities in improving basic education.
The implementation of Brigada Eskwela Plus will focus on three main activities: 1) School maintenance activities throughout the school year; 2) Community-led effort to improve student participation and reduce drop-outs, or enroll in the Alternative Learning System (ALS); 3) Community-led effort to improve student performance.
Meanwhile, all Brigada Eskwela Hall of Fame Awardees are expected to inspire the nominees by serving as the pilot schools in the implementation of the innovative and community-led effort of the new Brigada Eskwela Plus 2017.
Rabies Awareness and Prevention through Brigada Eskwela
In an issued Memorandum, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that Brigada Eskwela is a suitable occasion to increase rabies awareness in the school community, especially among teachers, learners, and parents.
Lectures on rabies awareness will be conducted in schools during the Brigada Eskwela week, and health educators will be trained before the conduct of Brigada Eskwela.
Under Republic Act No. 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, the DepEd is tasked to strengthen rabies education program through school health teaching or curriculum; and to integrate proper information and education on responsible pet ownership in relevant subjects at the elementary and secondary levels.