Thousands of school personnel and community stakeholders trooped to various public schools in Region 12 on Monday to join the start of the annual “Brigada Eskwela.”
Anton Maganto, information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 12, said all public elementary and secondary or high schools in the region have opened for the week-long activity, which is in preparation for the scheduled opening of classes on June 5.
Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
The region’s nine school divisions have a total of 1,746 public elementary and 499 secondary schools.
Maganto said local schools have reported a significant turnout of volunteers from various sectors for the initiative, which is slated until May 22.
He said the volunteers comprised parents, local government officials and employees, Army and police personnel, workers of private companies and members of community groups and non-government organizations.
The area’s school divisions initially reported an average participation rate of 94 percent from parents and other local stakeholders, he said.
“The response has been overwhelming so far and we expect more volunteers to join us in the coming days,” he said in a phone interview.
Brigada Eskwela, which is also known as the “National Schools Maintenance Week,” is a voluntary initiative that brings together teachers, parents and the community to do cleanup and repairs in public schools to prepare the facilities for the June school opening.
Undertaken in all public schools every third week of May or two weeks before classes begin, it is participated in by private organizations, individuals, national and local government agencies, local businesses, and international organizations and foundations, among others.
Volunteers paint classrooms, repair furniture and clean up the school grounds, with materials and supplies donated by the parents or by private businesses and foundations.
Prior to the start of the activity, Maganto said the region’s school divisions held caravans to drum up support from stakeholders.(PNA)
