Maintenance workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (SLDEO) were deployed to help prepare classrooms, school grounds, and roads leading to campuses for the opening of new academic year.
Gideon Sacro, maintenance section chief said all field personnel tasked to maintain road shifted their focus to assist the Department of Education (DepEd) in the week long Brigada Eskwela from May 15 to May 20, 2017.
“We help in beautifying and turning each school in this province into a more conducive learning space and safe for learners,” Sacro said.
The week-long school preparation activities covers 444 public elementary and secondary schools in 18 towns and Maasin City in Southern Leyte with a total enrolment of 91,712 as of last year.
This year’s Brigada Eskwela is anchored on the theme “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan para sa Ligtas na Paaralan.”
Upon the request of DepEd, District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia ordered about half of SLDEOs maintenance workers to participate in the weeklong school preparation activities.
Junia ordered maintenance engineers to coordinate with DepEd for prioritization because many schools have asked for assistance to clean school grounds and repaint classrooms.
“Aside from preparing campuses, we are also repainting pedestrian lanes to ensure safety of students, and clear roads leading to schools from any obstructions,” added Junia.
The annual National Schools’ Maintenance Week dubbed as Brigada Eskwela aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort and resources to prepare public school facilities ready for the opening of classes.