by Vency D. Bulayungan

LAGAWE, Ifugao (25 May) -- Parents, teachers and the community in the 11 municipalities here have enthusiastically supported the National Schools Maintenance Week (NSMW) last week, May 21-26.

Dubbed “Brigada Eskwela”, this Department of Education (DepEd)-led activity aims to encourage local communities to do minor repairs in their children’s schools in order to get these ready for the start of the next school year 2007-2008.

Ms. Aydinan, Education Supervisor I of the DepEd Division Office here said that this is one way of avoiding the common practice before of letting the pupils clean their classrooms and school premises during the first day of classes. “The school will start immediately with their classes on June 4 which is the opening of classes,” Aydinan said.

Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide voluntary effort of teachers, parents and the community. In a memorandum signed by DedEd Secretary Jeslie Lapus, school principals and teachers-in-charge are encouraged but not required to organize a local school maintenance week.

The same memo states that the following can be done: paint the roofs of the school buildings; cement existing footpaths and drains; repair leaking water pipes; repair comfort rooms and toilets; paint exterior walls of classrooms; repair or replace ceiling boards; repair, refinish or repaint chairs, desks, and furniture; clean up the gardens; repair or replace broken windows, jalousies, doors; replace school signs or any other types of repairs to be done.

The memo also stated that the principal or school head must lead the voluntary effort and should have organized the working groups through the Parents, Teachers and Community Association or the PTCA.

It clearly stated that the resources needed are materials such as paint, lumber tiles and other building materials, volunteered time, community spirit but not cash.