1. BRIGADA ESKWELA: ALL LOVE FOR EDUCATION
Lyca Mae Aurelio
Educators believe that environment plays a big part in student’s learning. And so, if
environment are not conducive to learning because of poor condition, education is hindered.
Brigada Eskwela was borne out of the need to address the challenges of public school education
in the Philippines. Brigada Eskwela had its roots in Republic Act 8525. The Adopt- a school
program aimed to encourage volunteerism and public-private partnership in public education. In
order to reach even more people, DeEd brought the program to the communities in 2003 through
Brigada Eskwela. It took with the launching of National Schools Maintenance week every third
week of May.
Brigada Eskwela added a same perspective to the Filipino unity called Bayanihan. This is
the best time to show solidarity, compassion and a helping hand. Different sector of the society
extend help to every school and it allows everyone to contribute big or small to this worthy
endeavor. In Brigada Eskwela, bayanihan is very much alive through helping hands and
unrelenting commitment to serve and improve the quality of education. It is a mean of
revolutionizing the Filipino trait of bayanihan.
Local government units and community members provide manpower and volunteer
services during the long week activity of Brigada Eskwela . Also inputs that may take in various
forms like materials for construction, decorative materials, paint, cleaning tools, and furniture.
Partners from private sector donate cash and resources to the cause and send their employees to
school to help. In Catagtaguen National High School BAGNOS Cooperative employees joined
the activity. Parents and teachers lead the way, especially with the beneficiaries of 4 P’s
(Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) gathered to extend their efforts. Representatives from
different groups and member of local government units, barangay officials policemen,
firefighters and soldiers also take a part in implementing things properly. Sangguniang Kabataan
and school organization promote youth power in the said activity. Seeing them work together to
paint a picture of shared goals and responsibilities between school and community it serves.
The volunteers came to realize that they came with one purpose, the dedication to
improve the quality of learning. They carry out the activity to achieve the common objective.
They realized that while government has the main responsibility of providing free and quality
education for every child and youth, the community has still important stake in achieving this
goal. Brigada Eskwela benefits not just the recipients. It is also a beneficial and uplifting to the
volunteer.
Indeed, the Brigada Eskwela has this power to make the community realize that their
children in school need to be checked. All the efforts well compensated for and parents will no
longer worry about their children with unclean and hazardous surroundings as their second
home. Keeping schools clean and beautiful is an innovative way to bring children to school, keep
2. them there and ensure they will learn. Every year Brigada Eskwela is being implemented to
ensure that schools nationwide are ready and safe for the learners before classes open.
The time to improve school’s environment does not end with just a long week Brigada
Eskwela. School maintenance activities shall continue throughout the year. It should be practiced
to ensure continuous community engagement. It’s the goal to improve schooling not just in the
opening of classes but all the time. We must bear in our minds that taking action must be utilize
always to maintain orderliness and things will not go wrong.
The outpouring enthusiasm of citizens through Brigada Eskwela proves that until today
the ancestors heroism are running to our veins and continue to flare. It validates that bayanihan
is still in the spirit of every Filipino where they values the importance of volunteerism in unity to
achieve a common goal, a common goal to improve the quality of education in the country. To
make children and youth be empowered by the spirit of education and be capable in facing the
real world. As our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal once quoted, “Ang mga kabataan ay pag-asa ng
bayan.” This means that the future of our nation lies on the hands of the youth of today. More so,
the youth have the power to reshape the nation's present appearance. You might have doubts on
how the youth can shape the image of hope when in fact we are still young and dependent on
their parents. We do not have the voice in national affairs and we are currently striving with our
lessons in schools. We are filled with tremendous and towering ambitions to reach for that we
need good quality of education. Through a simple involvement but great consequences, hand in
hand let us participate for the future of our nation. BRIGADA ESKWELA: ALL LOVE FOR
EDUCATION.
