CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Department of Education (DepEd) Region 3 calls upon the help of its partners for Brigada Pagbasa as a form of Brigada Eskwela to complement efforts in ensuring quality basic education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“Brigada Pagbasa shall highlight the implementation to promote literacy and numeracy through the help of partners and volunteers,” DepEd Regional Director May Eclar said during the official launching of Brigada Eskwela 2021 in preparation for the opening of classes on September 13.
 
“As we launch this year’s Brigada Eskwela, we accept the call of not just ensuring education continuity, but we also vow to help improve the quality of education amidst the ongoing health crisis. We shall double our efforts to guarantee that every Filipino learner acquire the basic competencies such as literacy and numeracy. Working together, we shall intensify our collaboration to uplift the quality of education and meet the current gaps of our educational system,” she added.
 
Friday’s Virtual Regional Kick-Off Program focused on efforts to further strengthen the engagement of education partners and stakeholders to ensure learning continuity.
 
With the theme “Bayanihan sa Paaralan”, Brigada Eskwela emphasizes the country’s collective efforts in promoting collaboration for safe living and addressing social issues and concerns in schools, at homes, and in the community.
 
“With no benchmarks or past experiences in delivering distance education amidst a pandemic, we at the DepEd were quick on our feet and developed our Basic Education Learning Continuity Plans and thus, we needed all the assistance that we can get to successfully conduct the various alternative learning modalities such as the modular approach, online learning, radio-based and TV-based instruction,” Eclar said.
 
“Thankfully, through the generosity and support of our education partners which include local government officials, civic groups and non-governmental organizations, parents, barangay leaders, volunteer teachers, and those in the community who contributed in one way or another, we hurdled past the challenges and difficulties of adapting to the new normal mode of education. This gives us a clear picture that we Filipinos, could rise above any calamity or crisis because we help and support one another,” she stressed.
 
The implementation of Brigada Eskwela shall comply with the required minimum public health standards set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, health protocols issued by local government units and other relevant DepEd Task Force COVID-19 issuances. (CLJD-PIA 3)