RECOGNIZING the important role of stakeholders in achieving the goals of basic education sector, Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones called on everyone to work with the government in rebuilding the city of Marawi.
In her speech during the recent Stakeholders Forum held at the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office, Briones expressed her appreciation of partners from the private sector, especially those who attended the occasion.
“I am happy that we are working together, so somehow the objectives of education and your own specialized objectives can somehow meet and achieve the goals which we have set for ourselves,” she said.
Reiterating the ongoing developments in Marawi, with the military taking over and residents hoping to return to their homes, Briones announced the DepEd’s plan to conduct Brigada Eskwela for Marawi only. Dubbed “Brigada Eskwela sa Marawi,” the event will be a joint effort between all DepEd offices nationwide, with regional offices in Mindanao providing manpower, and the Visayas and Luzon regional offices providing resources.
“This Brigada will be a sort of bayanihan effort on a national scale. Moving forward, we hope to implement the same support system should incidents and calamities like this happen,” said Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua, focal person for Brigada sa Marawi.
Briones invited all those who previously joined Brigada Eskwela, especially stakeholders from the private sector, to join Brigada sa Marawi to be held in November and led by DepEd officials.
“I know that you will be very interested because this is everybody’s concern. Marawi is going to be a very special event for us the moment we are allowed to go back. I hope you will all go, and definitely, I am going,” she added.
There are 69 schools in the war-torn city of Marawi, 22 of which have been totally destroyed and damaged.
“The Department of Education is one of the most devastated agencies when it comes to calamities, and we have estimated about P2-billion calamity-related expenditures,” Briones said.
The DepEd also conducted psychosocial assistance for displaced teachers and learners.
“If we want to restore the children’s sense of continuity of learning, we also have to restore the teachers’ welfare,” Briones said.
The DepEd conducted the one-day Stakeholders Forum to inform its partners of the status of the government’s programs and projects, and to strengthen collaboration with one another toward the achievement of quality, accessible, relevant and liberating basic education for all.