QUEZON City has joined the nationwide kickoff of Brigada Eskwela, an annual collaboration between the Department of Education, private sector and volunteers in the preparation and improvement of public school facilities before the start of the school year.
Brigada Eskwela will last until May 26 with the theme “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan” (One DepEd, One Community, One Cooperation for Prepared and Safe Schools).
It also known as “Bayanihan para sa Paaralan,” a nationwide public school maintenance week held every third week of May.
Teachers, parents and local community residents gather to repair classroom armchairs and tables, clean classrooms, and do other required maintenance.
The creation of Brigada Eskwela was brought about by the Adopt-a-School program in 1998, in partnership with private companies and professionals who are willing to share their resources to public education.
Quezon City has a total of 96 public elementary schools, 46 high schools and 33 schools for senior high school.
The city government has a P1.7-billion budget for education that will cover 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, Mayor Herbert Bautista is fast-tracking the construction of 20 new school buildings composed of 322 classrooms.
Grade 12 will be implemented full-scale this school year, per DepEd regulations, and there are an estimated 47,000 students in QC for the grade level.
The city’s estimated total student population for 2017 and 2018 for the elementary level is 400,000; junior high school, 200,000; and senior high school, 52,000.