President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to improve learning spaces and support the welfare of teachers and students as he led the national launch of Brigada Eskwela 2025 on Monday, June 9.

In his speech following his inspection of public school preparations in San Miguel, Bulacan, the President told teachers that the government is ready for the opening of the new school year on June 16.

"Asahan ninyo, gagawin namin lahat para maging handa na ang lahat ng paaralan sa pasukan (You can count on us to do everything to ensure schools are ready for the new academic year),” he said during his visit to Tibagan Elementary School.

“Patuloy lang namin tinitingnan at kailangan maghanda na tayo para sa pasukan. Ready na ba kayo? Palagay ko yung mga bata, reding-ready na rin (We continue to review everything, and we need to prepare for the school opening. Are you ready? I think the kids are more than ready, too),” he added.

Brigada Eskwela 2025, themed “Sama-Sama Para sa Bayang Bumabasa” (Together for a Nation of Readers), runs from June 9 to 13 and mobilizes teachers, parents, and volunteers to clean, repair, and improve classrooms nationwide.

During his visit to Barihan Elementary School in Malolos and Tibagan Elementary School in San Miguel, President Marcos inspected ceiling, door, and window repairs, reviewed damage photos from past typhoons, and observed campus beautification activities such as gardening, painting, and carpentry.

In his remarks before 200 newly hired public school teachers in San Miguel, Marcos reiterated his support for the teaching profession, noting that reforms are underway to reduce their clerical workload.

"Kasi naging teacher kayo para magturo, hindi para mag-bookkeeping (You became teachers to teach, not to do bookkeeping),” he said.

“Kayong mga teacher ang inaasahan. Para sa akin, kayo yung mga talagang hero (You teachers are the ones we count on. For me, you are the real heroes),” he added.

The President said many teachers enter the profession out of a calling and not for fame or wealth.

“Ang teacher, naging teacher kasi hindi makatulog yan kung hindi nagtuturo. Hindi mapakali ang teacher pag hindi nagtuturo (Teachers became teachers because they can’t sleep if they’re not teaching. They can’t rest unless they’re able to teach),” Marcos said.

“Susuportahan namin kayo—hindi lamang sa financial support, kung hindi pati na sa mga retraining… para makapagturo kayo nang mabuti (We will support you—not just financially, but also through retraining—so you can teach well),” he added.

Meanwhile, President Marcos also witnessed a live orientation by Khan Academy for 20 students—part of efforts to integrate free, high-quality learning platforms into public education.

To support digital access, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda presented the newly installed Starlink internet service at the school.

“Pwede na 'yan, basta ikabit mo lang, isaksak mo lang, okay na, may Wi-Fi (That works—just set it up, plug it in, and you already have Wi-Fi),” he said.

According to Marcos, the administration aims to roll out Starlink in geographically isolated and disadvantaged schools to improve access to online learning tools.

Meanwhile, Marcos witnessed the turnover of 22 tablets and a laptop at Barihan Elementary School.

To further assist students, more than 300 bags containing basic school supplies are set to be distributed to pupils on the first day of classes, June 16.

Earlier in the day, the President visited Barihan Elementary School in Malolos, where he checked ongoing rehabilitation work and highlighted the need for disaster-proof classrooms.

He reviewed archival images of typhoon damage and said ensuring resilience is a key part of the school improvement drive.

The five-day Brigada Eskwela is held annually ahead of the academic year to ensure schools are clean, safe, and ready for learners. This year’s campaign also highlights President Marcos’ education agenda, which includes infrastructure upgrades, digital integration, and teacher support.

During the visit, Marcos was joined by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and DICT Secretary Henry Aguda. The President said efforts to rehabilitate schools and improve teaching conditions are essential to raising student performance and national learning outcomes.

President Marcos also ordered the immediate rehabilitation of public school classrooms constructed during the administration of his late father, president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., noting that many of these structures were due for replacement two decades ago.

President Marcos said the Marcos-type buildings were supposed to have been replaced 20 years ago, emphasizing the urgency of restoring aging educational infrastructure to ensure the safety and readiness of learning environments nationwide.

“Ang life niyan is 20 to 30 years. Pero ayan at least mabuti na lang at nagagamit pa (Their life span is only up to 30 years, but at least they can still use them). But we really have to look at the rehabilitation of many of them,” he said.

The administration of the President's father was from 1965 to 1986.

According to the DepEd, among the various types of existing public school buildings in the country is the Marcos pre-fabricated type, which was built starting in 1970. With a classroom size of six meters by seven meters, this type of school building has ordinary corrugated galvanized iron sheet for roofing, steel rafters for roof framing, no ceiling, steel railings for windows, steel doors, and 6” concrete hollow blocks for walls.