Australians join Brigada Eskwela

MANILA, Philippines – Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith will lead Australian embassy staff in “Brigada Eskwela 2010.”

Spearheaded by the Department of Education, Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide activity that brings together parents, teachers and pupils to clean up and prepare schools across the country for the start of classes in June. 

Australian Embassy staff participation in Brigada Eskwela, which will include clean-up and repainting of classrooms, demonstrates further Australia’s commitment to help improve the quality of teaching and learning in the Philippines. 

Other senior Australian embassy officials, including Deputy Head of Mission Stephen Scott and AusAID Minister Counsellor Titon Mitra, will participate in the activity. 

Australia, a major partner of the Philippines in improving basic education, works with the government, civil society and the private sector to train teachers, build classrooms, provide teaching and learning materials, to look at new ways of learning –  to get kids to school and keep them there.