The Department of Education-Cordillera urged the public, especially parents, to help in preparing the classrooms that students would be using when the new school year opens on Aug. 29.
DepEd-Cordillera Director Estela Cariño said the “Brigada Eskwela” was institutionalized as an activity before the opening of each school year.
“If we have some partners who will help, it will be something to assure that the schools are ready for the opening. We encourage the parents’ participation, since it is the school of the children, in helping see to it that the schools are ready to receive the children,” she said.
Cariño emphasized the importance of the Brigada Eskwela, especially at this time to make sure that the classrooms are fixed before the children return to school after the school break.
Based on the Aug. 3 DepEd-Cordillera Rapid Assessment of Damage Report (Radar), there were 212 totally damaged classrooms in the region, with 165 of them in Abra.
Meanwhile, 689 had major damage and 858 with minor damage.
The report showed 376 had damaged toilets; 257 had damaged hand-washing facilities; and 8,354 had damaged armchairs.
“Some donors started to give materials to identified school beneficiaries,” Cariño said.
She added other groups or individuals interested to help in the restoration of the damaged school facilities and equipment can communicate with the school divisions, especially if they have specific schools they want to help.
“We welcome donors. This is common, especially for graduates of schools who want to help, they can get in touch with the schools or the division offices,” the director said.
She also encouraged donors to give in kind instead of cash.
“We will still be downloading some amount from the regional to the schools in need,” Cariño added.
The national Brigada Eskwela kicked off on Aug. 7. – PNA
