2021 Brigada Eskwela Reminders for School Heads

The Department of Education (DepEd) through the External Partnership Services shall conduct the Brigada Eskwela Program from August 3, 2021 to September 30, 2021, with the theme “Bayanihan Para sa Paaralan“.

Attached is the copy of Enclosure No. 1 to DepEd Memorandum No. 48, s. 2021 re: REMINDERS FOR SCHOOL HEADS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2021 BRIGADA ESKWELA.

Reminders for School Heads in the Implementation of 2021 Brigada Eskwela

1. Brigada Eskwela champions the spirit of volunteerism in DepEd. It is not only DepEd’s program, but also that of education stakeholders. Taking part in the school preparation activities and works are neither mandatory nor a requisite for learners to be accommodated in schools.
2. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, this year’s Brigada Eskwela shall ensure support for the provision of learning opportunities while ensuring health, safety, and protection of the well-being of learners, teachers and personnel. Brigada Eskwela shall play an important mechanism to enable schools to catch up with the expectations for multiple learning delivery modalities.
3. Aside from the usual activities conducted in the past Brigada Eskwela, School Heads must ensure the following among other related initiatives:

a. Coordinate with the Local Government Units (LGUs) or other non-government organizations (NGOs) and volunteers to clean and disinfect school buildings, classrooms, and other school facilities.

b. Engage partners to raise the availability of the following items in school during Brigada Eskwela:

i. Printing of CO VID-19 and sanitation/proper hand washing hygiene information materials;

ii. Printing of materials and provision of supplies for distance learning for the learners, teachers and parents (i.e. bond papers, worksheets, notebooks, pad paper, ball pens, pencils, crayons, coloring materials and others);

iii. Hand sanitizing materials, such as rubbing alcohol, antibacterial or germicidal soap;

iv. Medical devices and equipment (i.e. infrared and digital thermometer, Pulse oximeter – fingertip, thermal scanner, Stethoscope, Blood Pressure monitor machine);

v. Washable face mask, surgical face mask, face shield, and surgical gloves;

vi. Cleaning tools, materials or disinfectants that may be used to disinfect the learning areas, such as spray tank, disinfectant spray or disinfecting bleach, foot bath; and

vii. Multivitamins capsules, tablets, or syrups for DepEd personnel and learners;

c. Ensure that psychological first aid or other psychological interventions and debriefing are conducted in partnership with stakeholders during the implementation of Brigada Eskwela.

d. Conduct orientation activities with teachers, partners, Parents-Teachers Associations (PTA) and learners on DepEd’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), with special focus on the implementation of DepEd multiple learning delivery modalities. The schools may use multimedia communication and other communication strategies to conduct the orientation to:

i. Encourage parents on possible collaborations with the schools to provide support for the continuation of learning opportunities.

ii. Engage parents in the promotion of the new school system. The new role and increased involvement of the parents in the learning of their children are essential to augment available resources and technology in the community.

iii. Engage partners in the promotion and provision of distance learning delivery modalities such as local radio/TV stations and other available media as a form of Brigada Eskwela and partnership initiative to deliver the curriculum. The School Heads may identify resources and partnerships necessary for High Tech, Low Tech or No Tech aide for learning.

e. Coordinate with the concerned DepEd units on the possible implementation of Gulayan sa Tahanan or Urban Vegetable Gardening at Home as part of Brigada Eskwela and School-Family-Community partnerships to promote sustainable food supply at homes, as well as on communicating to stakeholders on how they can support the school emergency and contingency to ensure resiliency.

f. Collaborate with various stakeholders to support the implementation of the BE-LCP.

g. Realigned Brigada Pagbasa in their BE-LCP.

h. Partnership appreciation and other school-based initiatives.

4. The schools are encouraged to include the partnership for Wash in Schools (WINS) and Disaster Preparedness in their Brigada Eskwela Work Plan. The school heads may refer to Annex A to D for guidance.
5. The schools are encouraged to document all their efforts to implement the new way of conducting Brigada Eskwela. All partnership initiatives and generated resources shall be reported in the DepEd Partnerships Database System (DPDS) starting June 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

6. No Brigada Eskwela fee shall be collected from parents/guardians or solicited from other volunteers and stakeholders.
7. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 6, s.2012 titled “Guidelines on the Adoption and Implementation of Public Health Policies on Tobacco Control and Protection against Tobacco Industry Interference,” receiving assistance or support from companies and other players in the tobacco industry for Brigada Eskwela is not allowed.
8. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 48, s. 2018 titled “Prohibition on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activity,” the schools may not receive any forms of contribution/donations from official candidate(s) for the local and national election.

READ MORE: 2021 Brigada Eskwela School Safety and Preparedness Guide