The National Schools Maintenance Week or the Brigada Eskwela (BE), the nationwide school maintenance program led by the Department of Education (DepEd), will officially start on Monday, Aug. 14.

With the theme, “Bayanihan Para sa MATATAG na Paaralan,” the 2023 Brigada Eskwela will be implemented in all public schools nationwide until Aug. 19 to prepare for the opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2023-2024 scheduled on Aug. 29.  

“We appeal to the bayanihan spirit of every Filipino na tumulong sa paghahanda ng ating mga paaralan para sa (to help in preparing our schools for the) opening of classes),” Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said during the 2023 BE national kick-off in Tarlac on Aug. 7.

Real ‘essence’ of Brigada

This school year, DepEd reminded school heads to ensure that the conduct of the BE will remain true to its objectives: volunteerism and “bayanihan.”

“We want to go back to the real essence of Brigada Eskwela this year [and] that is bayanihan,” said DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa said during the presser for the national kick-off.

“The DepEd appeals to the bayanihan spirit of each and every Filipino to help us prepare schools for the opening of classes for school year 2023- 2024,” Poa said.

He explained that this year’s Brigada Eskwela will no longer include contests such as the search for the “Best Implementing School” --- among others.

“Kasi napansin namin na dahil nagkakaroon ng (We noticed that because there is) competition for the past few years, nawawala yung totoong (we have lost the real) essence ng (of) Brigada Eskwela,” Poa said.

“This year, we just want to again, make it simple. We just want to clean, neat and orderly schools,” he explained. “We want to declutter our classrooms [and] we just want to make sure their classrooms are clean, neat and orderly for the coming school year,” he added.

READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/7/dep-ed-reverts-to-simpler-brigada-eskwela-this-year

Strictly no solicitation

During the conduct of the BE, DepEd said school heads, teachers, and other school personnel were “strictly prohibited” from soliciting or collecting any form of contribution including volunteers, partners, and stakeholders.

“The Brigada Eskwela activities shall focus on voluntary work and participation to ensure that schools are adequately prepares for the upcoming school year,” DepEd said.

Implemented by DepEd through its External Partnerships Service (EPS), the BE is an annual program that “engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, efforts and resources in ensuring that public schools are all set in time for class opening.”

During the conduct of the BE, DepEd enjoined local communities, parents, alumni, civic groups, local businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private individuals, and even teachers and students to volunteer their time and skills to help in the conduct of clean-ups, minor to medium repairs, and maintenance work in classrooms and within the school site.

Based on the BE Implementing Guidelines for this SY (DepEd Order No. 21 series of 2023), all regions and school divisions were instructed to provide “intensive and extensive support” to school heads.

Before the conduct of BE, DepEd asked schools to assess the physical facilities and maintenance needs of schools and ensure compliance with the absolute no prohibition on solicitation.

A BE Working committee, DepEd said, should also that will conduct extensive public awareness campaigns, and establish partnerships for resource mobilization, actual program implementation, handling of administrative and financial matters, and documentation.

In the implementation stage, DepEd said that all “work and tasks” performed under the Brigada Eskwela are “voluntary in nature.”

School heads were also asked to ensure the “maintenance of clean schools” during the week-long activity.

After the implementation, DepEd said schools need to prepare and submit accomplishment reports.

Schools are also expected to implement strategies that would help sustain the BE efforts. Moreover, DepEd reminded schools of the awarding of service credits and compensatory time off for teachers who participated in the program.  

With the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 297 dated July 21, 2023, DepEd reiterated the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to Covid-19.

BE hotline

To monitor the state of schools, especially on the first day of Brigada Eskwela until the opening of classes for the incoming school year, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines will also launch its Bantay Balik-Eskwela Hotline on Aug. 14.

READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/4/dep-ed-to-hold-2023-brigada-eskwela-from-aug-14-to-19