Typhoon-hit QC studes to get first crack at Brigada Eskwela

 

Students of the Bagong Silangan Elementary School (BSES) in barangay Bagong Silangan, QC will get the first crack at Brigada Eskwela on May 21, the Saturday before the nationwide campaign kicks off on May 23, or two weeks before classes begin for school year (SY) 2010-2011 on June 6.

The corporate-led Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is set to spearhead a group of local business companies, on its fourth year of joining Brigada Eskwela.

Last year, PBSP was able to mobilize at least P1.4 million worth of cash and in-kind donations for 234 schools, with 23 companies supporting the call for school equipment donations and employee volunteering participation.

In pursuit of its employee volunteerism campaign, PBSP has organized such an event at Bagong Silangan to provide services including classroom cleaning, covering library books, conducting gardening and minor repairs, plus haircutting services.

The participating companies are Aquabest, Asalus Corp. (Intellicare), Citibank, Diwa Learning Systems Inc., ELRO Corp., Flying V, Holcim Phils., International Container Terminal Services Inc., L’Oreal Phils., Lamoiyan Corp., M&H Food Corp. (Hen Lin), Media Meter, Pacific Metals Canada Phils. Inc., and Victory Liner.

With at least 7,200 students and 152 teachers, BSES has only 64 classrooms serving residents not just of Bagong Silangan but of nearby barangays Payatas and Batasan Hills.

According to PBSP, the school has one of the low-performing records in Metro Manila, with its achievement rate the past three years way below the passing mark.  For SY 2009-2010, the passing rate was a measly 53.55 percent.

Records show that around 15 percent of BSES students are frustrated readers, while 32 percent are either undernourished or malnourished.

PBSP said its initiatives relative to Brigada Eskwela has contributed to its overall advocacy in education which is to contribute significantly to an improved and sustained delivery and access to quality basic education.

For this year, PBSP has targeted mobilizing at least P10 million for 100 schools nationwide.  These schools have requested donations for construction materials, textbooks and workbooks, school supplies, computers, school desks, nutrition and hygiene kits.