Marcos, Angara push school safety, literacy at Navotas Brigada Eskwela
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday led an inspection of Brigada Eskwela activities at Kapitbahayan Elementary School, highlighting the administration’s efforts to improve campus safety and strengthen literacy programs ahead of the opening of classes.
Joined by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Marcos toured the school as teachers, parents, and volunteers carried out preparations for the start of classes in public schools on June 16.
During the visit, the President inspected the school’s newly installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, part of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) broader initiative to enhance campus security and address concerns such as bullying, vandalism, and unauthorized entry.
READ: DepEd kicks off Brigada Eskwela in Tarlac
Marcos also visited the school’s Reading Nook, a child-friendly learning space established under DepEd’s literacy program aimed at improving reading skills among Kindergarten to Grade 3 learners through age-appropriate materials and leveled storybooks.
The president participated in a storytelling session with students as part of the administration’s campaign to strengthen foundational literacy.
“It is significant that President Bongbong Marcos is with us to see that when schools are safer because of CCTV systems, students can focus more on learning,” Angara said.
“We have combined security measures with initiatives such as Reading Nooks to ensure that our learners are not only safe but are also developing strong reading skills and learning effectively,” he added.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also showcased its Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, which complements DepEd’s literacy initiatives by deploying college student tutors to provide remedial reading support to elementary school learners.
School officials reported that 823 learners were enrolled in the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) Program at the start of the previous school year. By year-end, all participating learners had improved their reading and mathematics proficiency, eliminating the need for a summer ARAL intervention program.
DepEd said the results reflect broader gains under the ARAL Program, which has reduced the number of struggling learners nationwide from 6.7 million to 2.2 million.
During the tour, Marcos was also shown a school building constructed during the administration of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and another facility donated during the tenure of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos as head of the National Housing Authority.
Angara likewise commended the efforts of volunteers participating in Brigada Eskwela, as well as the support provided through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program, which deployed 240,000 workers nationwide to assist in school maintenance and preparation activities.
