Brigada Eskwela kicks off in time for school year 2017-2018

Teachers and students were all set early Monday for the nationwide launching of the Brigada Eskwela 2017, a report on Unang Balita said.

The formal launching is to be held at 8 a.m. at the Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas City, GMA News' Victoria Tulad reported.

NH: Usec. Annalyn Sevilla and DepEd NCR RD Ponciano Menguito at the #BrigadaEskwela Regional Kickoff at Kapitbahayan ES in Navotas. pic.twitter.com/JgaEEnMVkf

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) May 15, 2017

A motorcade departed at 6:30 a.m. from Quirino Grandstand in Manila and passed through North EDSA and Potrero, Malabon.

Officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) are expected to participate in the launch program.

The Brigada Eskwela is the annual program of the DepEd wherein teachers, students, parents, and other interested parties join hands in preparing classrooms in public schools for use in the coming schoolyear.

Classrooms and school buildings will also be examined to check if these can withstand disasters, following the earthquakes that recently hit Batangas and Surigao.

Schools may put up alternative learning spaces or temporary classrooms if needed, the report said.

Teachers will also undergo training for disaster preparedness as part of the program. 

Part of the program to ensure safety of students is establishing measures to prevent the entry and proliferation of illegal drugs in schools, the report said.

DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones said they will be more aggressive in asking other members of society in participating in the Brigada Eskwela, among them the private sector, civil society organizations, and the church.

The Brigada Eskwela will end on Friday, May 19.

Two weeks before the first day of school, DepEd will issue a report on the status of the readiness of schools nationwide. —KG, GMA News