DepEd seeks private sector support on schools clean up
Brigada Eskwela, an annual nationwide endeavor organized by the Department of Education in preparation for the opening of classes in June, kicks off today in all public schools in Western Visayas and the entire country.
The activity which will last until May 22 is supported by civic and non-government organizations, corporations and the private sector.
Earlier, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus invited all education stakeholders to join DepEd for the National Schools Maintenance Week or Brigada Eskwela, which is part of a series of preparations for school opening under Oplan Balik Eskwela.
"We request the entire community to join our 44,000 public schools in sprucing up our schools in time for school opening. Civic and non-government organizations, corporations and private individuals are encouraged to go to public schools and extend the needed assistance especially to schools that need help in terms of manpower, and construction and cleaning materials," said Lapus.
Separate programs would be held today in key cities and provincial capitals nationwide to kick-off the week-long activity.
Members of the school community come together to do minor repairs and other maintenance work on their schools, including the repainting of classroom walls and roofs, repair of leaking water pipes, boards, broken furniture, cleaning of toilets, and gardening, among others.
Materials used during the week-long effort will come from donation from local businesses and other companies as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.
Participating private sector companies, government and non-government agencies include Philip Morris Philippines, Petron Corporation and Petron Foundation, San Miguel Foundation and San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation, Microsoft Philippines, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Megaworld Corporation, Philippine Business for Social Progress and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The DepEd chief noted that "companies, government agencies, groups, and individuals who are interested to participate in Brigada Eskwela may help our public schools from May 18 to 22 and beyond. This is a perfect venue for them to get involved in the affairs of our public schools and help DepEd give our public school students an environment that is more conducive for learning."
The participation of public schools in Brigada Eskwela jumped from 12,533 school participants in 2003 – or 31% of all public schools – to 44,619 or 100% in 2008.
Brigada Eskwela is part of DepEd's annual Oplan Balik Eskwela, which aims to prepare public schools for school opening. All education stakeholders are urged to do minor repairs of school furniture and other masonry works, and donate construction and cleaning materials to public schools.
In a related development, Senator Mar Roxas will also lead family members, friends and supporters for the start of “Brigada Eskwela” on Monday.
Roxas, chairman of the senate committee on education, has linked up with teachers, parents, students and community members to initiate minor repairs and other maintenance work at the Manuel Roxas High School in Scout Chuatoco St., Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City on Monday.
”It is important to repair and clean the classrooms to attract the students to study well. Let’s help one another,” he said.
The senator also stressed the value of having a stake in the public education system under the spirit of "bayanihan" as expressed his faith in improving Philippine education with the goodwill of many Filipinos.
Roxas' network of friends and supporters, called Friends of Mar, will be conducting their Brigada Eskwela effort in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Naga, Camarines Sur, Manila, Cavite, Baguio, South Cotobato, Sorsogon, Tarlac, Lingayen, among others.