Over 1m seen to participate in ‘Brigada’ in Normin today

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

TODAY, more than one million students and parents are expected to troop to various public schools in northern Mindanao for this year’s “Brigada Eskwela,” the national schools maintenance week.

Now on its 13th year, the week-long event from May 30 to June 4 will be adopting the theme “Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa Mula Kindergarten Hanggang Senior High School.”

Initiated in 2003, Brigada Eskwela brings together the government and civil society to work together to ensure that all public school facilities are clean, orderly, and safe for the opening of schools in June.

Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide voluntary effort from various sectors of society-anging from teachers, parents, students, to community members, and private organizations–to repair and prepare classrooms in time for the school opening.

In Region 10, Dr. Allan Farnazo, Department of Education (Deped) regional director, said they expect a huge turnout based on the feedback they received from principals and administrators across the region.

Farnazo said aside from the parents, pupils and students, they are expecting non-government organizations and government agencies, including members of the National Police and Army.

“The deparment encourages individuals to participate and contribute their time and resources to help prepare schools in their communities for the opening of classes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deped Undersecretary Mario Deriquito said this year’s national kick-off ceremony would be held at Sta. Cruz Pingkian High School, one of the 5,990 public schools that would begin offering the Senior High School (SHS) program on June 13. The said school is located in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

Deriquito highlighted the three elements comprising this year’s slogan: school safety, cleanliness, and readiness.

“In line with safety, we are asking our volunteers and our communities to ensure that in the schools, there is nothing there that will pose danger to our students,” said Derequito.

The agency also tied up with the Bureau of Fire Protection to inspect the classrooms for fire and electrical safety.

Farnazo said aside from the opening of the school year 2016-2017, the entire region is also preparing for the full implementation of senior high school/K to 12 program.

However, the regional organization of Alliance of Concerned Teachers-10 (ACT-10) claimed that the program is “still anti-people and a waste of time and money.”

Earlier, ACT-10 regional spokesperson Ofelia Tabacon said their group remains negative and opposed the implementation of the K to 12 program in coming school year.

Tabacon said two weeks before the opening of classes, they urging the government to suspend the K to 12 program, citing lack of preparation, especially in terms of facilities, equipment, and the hiring, training and salaries of teachers.

But Farnazo dismissed doubts that Deped is not ready for the implementation of senior high school program.

He said not less than 350 senior high school-K to 12 teachers have undergone training for the full operation of the program at Misamis Occidental General Comprehensive High School. (with pna reports)