THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) in Negros Occidental is reminding schools in the province that there should be no more cleaning activities during the first day of class on June 4.
DepEd-Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Portia Mallorca, at the sidelines of the opening ceremony of 2018 Brigada Eskwela at La Castellana National High School in La Castellana town yesterday, May 21, said all schools under the division’s jurisdiction are mandated to ensure readiness before the start of the class.
“This means that there should be no more students cleaning during the first day of class. Instead, they should be inside the classroom attending their classes,” she added.
The annual Brigada Eskwela, which started in 2002, is one of the agency’s measures to prepare schools, making them ready to cater students on the first day of class.
Mallorca said they will be calling the attention of schools, through the principals, reportedly letting their students clean the school premises.
“Having the students doing some school chores like gardening has been a practice a long time ago, it is a culture that we have to correct,” she stressed.
(No collection policy)
Themed "Pagkakaisa para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan,” the 2018 Brigada Eskwela will start on May 28 until June 2.
Mallorca said aside from preparing schools, the national and simultaneous activity promotes volunteerism among various partners, stakeholders, and the community.
Thus, the DepEd does not allow any form of mandatory collections from the parents or any groups, Mallorca said.
(Uniform)
She, meanwhile, reiterated that through a DepEd order, students are not required to wear a uniform in attending classes.
“But we encourage them to have uniform also as a security measure for us to ensure that those entering the schools are legitimate students,” the official said, adding that “it is not a requirement though."