DepEd announces June 5 as start of classes

SAN FERNANDO CITY – The Department of Education announced that classes in all public schools will officially start on June 5.

To prepare for the opening of classes, the simultaneous Brigada Eskwela was conducted.

“Though Brigada Eskwela is an annual school maintenance activity, we want to emphasize that school maintenance is yearlong, thus Oplan Brigada Plus was launched,” Cesar Bucsit, chief of Public Affairs Unit of DepEd Region 1 said.

Bucsit added, “We commend the participation and contribution of the parents and even the teachers who played a big role during the conduct of Brigada Eskwela”.

Meanwhile, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones in a message said: “In my day, it was only our teachers who supervised the cleaning of classrooms. All of us, the students, sweep and scrubed out our desks. Now, with Brigada Eskwela, we enjoin private partners, the LGUs, other government agencies, parents, and other stakeholders to take part in preparing our schools for the opening of classes. This is the core of community engagement; working together for a bright future, because education is not just the business of DepEd alone, it is a community effort.”

School safety and preparedness guide including school disaster management is given priority through the following: assessing of school electrical installation system, clearing up of drainage, defined evacuation plans, much-needed repairs, clearing up of corridors and pathways for safety exit in time of emergencies.

“Isang DepEd. Isang Pamayanan. Isang Bayanihan para sa isang Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan” is theme for this year’s Brigada Eskwela.

Bucsit also announced that outstanding school implementers of Brigada Eskwela in the provincial and regional categories, both for elementary and secondary level, will be recognized in a search that is annually undertaken by DepEd.

In the region, this year’s regional kick-off for the Brigada Eskwela was held at Alaminos National High School in Pangasinan last May 17. (JOANNA DIAZ SABADO/PIA-1, La Union)