CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The Department of Education Regional Office III (DepEd-3) is calling for strategic and healthy partnerships among education stakeholders and partners for the safe return of students in public schools to in-person classes on August 22, 2022.
During the kick off of Brigada Eskwela on August 1, DepEd-3 Director May B. Eclar called on education partners and stakeholders to continue their support not just for the physical improvement of schools but also for the recovery of the learners from the effects of the pandemic.
"DepEd cannot do it alone. We need those who have stakes in education to be involved in our recovery plans. Our stakeholders play a vital role to accomplish our goals. Without their support, our efforts in the Department of Education will be futile. Thus, this kick-off of the Brigada Eskwela for this school year is not just a call, para sa paghahanda para sa ligtas na balik eskwela. But this is also a call para sa pagtutulungan para sa pagbangon ng ating mga mag-aaral mula sa epekto ng pandemya," she said.
As part of the preparations for the school opening on August 22, Eclar assured that the DepEd has been keen on initiating activities and programs that will ensure the safety of 2.6 million learners in Central Luzon, through bayanihan.
"Through the Brigada Eskwela, we highlight one of our outstanding traits as Filipinos – the bayanihan spirit, from the word 'bayan,'from the word 'bayani.' Bayanihan is a communal unity helping others without expecting anything in return. Expecting rewards, and that reward is to achieve a common goal. And in our case, our common goal is geared towards the improvement of our learners," she said.
Eclar furthered that bayanihan spirit opens opportunities to engage and secure investments for education as well as collaboration to ensure preparedness of teachers, learners and parents for the start of the new school year with the common goal of providing access and quality relevant education to students in Central Luzon.
"DepEd has added the component 'Brigada Eskwela Plus' wherein anytime of the year, partnerships or collaborations with our schools for its improvement is conducted. We also accept teacher development partnerships with our stakeholders, for learning resources and the like, these are conducted all throughout the year. And last year is another added component of the Brigada Eskwela the 'Brigada Pagbasa' wherein we engage partners to improve the reading skills of our learner in the key stages, Kinder to Grade 3," she shared.
Themed "Tugon sa Hamon sa Ligtas na Balik-Aral", Brigada Eskwela will run until August 26 and pursue collective efforts from various partnership engagements, creating a safe learning environment for the learners, teaching and non-teaching personnel, and community to achieve safety while ensuring the delivery of quality education.