The Department of Education (DepEd) has invited the private sector to participate in the upcoming 2025 Brigada Eskwela, scheduled from June 9 to 13, ahead of the academic year opening on June 16. This initiative aims to prepare public schools for the new school year.
In an ambush interview, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will officially launch the week-long event. He stated, “Nananawagan rin tayo sa ating mga kaibigan sa pribadong sektor at sa mga iba’t-ibang komunidad na tumulong dito sa kanilang mga eskwelahan (We call on our friends in the private sector and the various communities to help their schools).”
Angara expressed gratitude to teachers and stakeholders participating in Brigada Eskwela but clarified that financial contributions from parents are not mandatory. “Hindi required iyan. Kung gusto lang ng voluntary, dahil bawal iyong mag-require (No, it’s not required. If they just want, voluntary because requiring it is prohibited),” he explained.
Additionally, Angara announced that over 800 schools will pilot a revised Senior High School (SHS) curriculum aimed at enhancing the employability of Grade 12 graduates. The reform reduces core subjects from 15 to five per semester, including Effective Communication, Life and Career Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino (Study of Philippine History and Society).
The new SHS structure will replace traditional strands with “clusters of electives,” allowing students to choose from four curricular exits: higher education, employment, entrepreneurship, or middle-level skills development. Angara emphasized that SHS learners in pilot schools will have the flexibility to select electives aligned with their post-SHS goals.
