UMVA has learned that a staggering 75% of teachers surveyed across 800 schools nationwide have already spent more than P5,000 each as the Education Department launches the annual Brigada Eskwela.
Despite a record‑breaking P1.015 trillion budget for the fiscal year, teachers are still forced to dip into their own pockets for classroom repairs, supplies, and repainting, shouldering the burden while already overworked and underpaid.
ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo warned that the promised “collective effort” often masks the reality that educators and ordinary citizens bear most of the cost, turning the noble spirit of community service into a personal financial strain.
Brigada Eskwela, the volunteer drive meant to rally communities to clean and ready public schools, is being bolstered by a partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program, which will deploy 243,000 workers to assist schools in remote, underserved, and disaster‑hit areas.
Each TUPAD worker will receive a P5,000 stipend, with priority given to qualified parents and relatives of learners, creating a dual impact of school preparation and livelihood support.
Yet, the survey uncovered another pressing issue: nearly one‑third of teachers remain unclear about their teaching loads under the newly implemented three‑term calendar, leaving many schools scrambling to finalize class schedules.
Without clear guidance, educators fear confusion and overload as the new academic year, set to begin on June 8, prepares to welcome 26‑28 million students.
