PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to transform traditional schools into "smart" and climate-resilient learning facilities with digitally empowered teachers.

The president emphasized this initiative after spearheading the national kick-off of Brigada Eskwela 2025 at Tibagan Elementary School in San Miguel, Bulacan, on June 9, 2025.

Smart and Climate-Resilient Schools Initiative

The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with Khan Academy Philippines to install Smart Televisions, providing interactive courses aligned with the curriculum to equip students with foundational skills.

To complement this, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has provided satellite-powered, all-weather internet to give students uninterrupted online access when they are in school. A newly constructed telecommunications tower next to the school expands the coverage of the wireless network.

Community Involvement

Parents, teachers, and volunteers came together to paint chairs at the Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City during the kick-off of Brigada Eskwela on June 9, 2025.

School Repairs and Funding

The president chose to visit Tibagan Elementary School because its old, dilapidated, termite-infested classrooms are in urgent need of replacement. Casimiro Reyes Jr., school principal, said the Office of the President has informed him that P9 million has been allocated for the immediate repair of their classrooms, which will be carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Marcos has also ordered Education Secretary Sonny Angara to speed up the construction plans for flood-prone schools like the Barihan Elementary School in the city of Malolos, Bulacan.

Faculty and Staff Enhancements

Meanwhile, DepEd-Bulacan Schools Division Superintendent Norma Esteban presented to the president the newly hired 200 additional faculty members who are set to start teaching this school year.

Marcos reiterated his commitment to empower the new set of faculty members by investing in training and equipment. They are part of the 20,000 teaching positions approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for 2025. Aside from this, there are also 10,000 new administrative officer II positions opened by DBM to cut teachers' administrative tasks by 57 percent.

Marcos recognized the hard work of teachers he tagged as "true heroes." "Our teachers are doing well. Maybe they just lack support. We will support you. Not only financially, but also in retraining. We are reducing administrative duties, those kinds of things, so that you can focus on teaching," he said.

Focus on Hygiene and Health

During his visit, the president cited the need to also focus on students' hygiene. "One of the things that I noticed are the bathrooms. We really need to clean and beautify the bathrooms. It's not that hard to do, except for the problem that the schools we've gone to don't have water. That's why we're going to look carefully at where the water should be coming from. Why don't they have water when they're paying for their water supply?" Marcos said in Filipino.

"For me that's basic, because the health of the child is affected. They might get sick if the bathrooms they go to aren't clean. So, that's one of the areas that we're really going to focus on. Just on the health and safety of the kids," he added.

To run until June 13, Brigada Eskwela is a DepEd initiative involving teachers, parents, and volunteers who work together to ensure public schools are ready for the opening of classes next week.

Source: The Manila Times.