THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers welcomed the scrapping by the Department of Education of the “Best Brigada Eskwela Implementers” contest following numerous complaints that the competition forces teachers to solicit for school needs.

The group called on the government to double the budget for school maintenance and other operating expenses.

“The removal of the Brigada competition should be partnered with the allotment and release of sufficient funds for school opening preparation for its to be a really impactful reform,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

ACT also sought the provision of funds to repair and prepare clTHE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers welcomed the scrapping by the Department of Education of the “Best Brigada Eskwela Implementers” contest following numerous complaints that the competition forces teachers to solicit for school needs.assrooms so that teachers will not be obligated to ask for donations or spend their own money for their classroom needs before school opening.

“We recognize the Bayanihan spirit of encouraging and involving the local governments and communities in nurturing our schools, however, the duty of providing for education should not be passed on to them as they are already taxpayers who contributed for the delivery of basic social services,” Quetua said.

“The total DepEd budget for school maintenance and other operating expenses for 2023 is only P30.8 billion. For around 25 million learners in public schools today, this would only yield a budget of P1,232 per learner for the whole year to cover minor classroom repairs, equipment and supplies, electric and water bills, special events, and other operational expenses. Hindi na talaga iyan nakakaabot sa antas ng classroom dahil kulang na kulang pa para tustusan ang mga panlahatang gastos ng paaralan,” he added.

“Hiling namin na doblehin ang school MOOE para makaabot naman ang pondo sa antas classroom at hindi ma-obliga ang mga guro na manghingi sa iba o gumastos ng sariling pera,” Quetua said.