In line with its efforts to ensure the smooth opening of classes for school year 2019-2020, the Department of Education has announced the conduct of this year’s “Brigada Eskwela” and the launching of the national “Oplan: Balik Eskwela.”
DepEd said the Brigada Eskwela or the annual school maintenance activity is scheduled from May 20 to 25.
With theme, “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan,” Brigada Eskwela aims to “bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources to prepare public schools for the opening of classes.”
Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd Memorandum No. 29, Series of 2019, announced that the national OBE will run from May 27 to June 7.
The OBE is an annual initiative to “engage agencies, organizations, and all other stakeholders in preparation for the opening of the school year.”
The DepEd, through its External Partnerships Service, recently led a convergence meeting with national government agencies and government-owned and controlled-corporations to strengthen partnerships for Brigada Eskwela.
Based on the data from EPS, the Brigada Eskwela in 2018 generated a grand total of P6,447,685,413.61 worth of resources and volunteer man hours and mobilized a total of 22,647,754 volunteers.
DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq., explained that the department would like to “change” the mindset of its local officials about the program.
“We’re now trying to equip all of our school officials from the various local levels of governance – from the school, district, schools division, region, and up to the Central Office – about partnership,” he said as he emphasized “everyone’s role in the provision of quality education for all.” (Ina Malipot)
