Inclusive education for special children passes into law
President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law an act that warrants all the schools in the country to provide inclusive education to special learners.
Republic Act No. 11650 or “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act” was signed on March 11 and publicly released on March 15.
The new law states that “it shall recognize, protect, and promote the rights of all learners with disabilities, including those belonging to ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities or persons of indigenous origin…”
Therefore, the law decreases the alienation of special learners and integrates them into the general population in schools. Both private and public schools must implement inclusive education for their early and basic education curriculum.
Also, the law mandates the creation of an Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILCR). This provision allows the conversion of all existing SPED (Special Education) Centers to ILCR.
The ILCRs must enact the Child Find System, a method of identification and evaluation of special children.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development estimates that 60% of Filipino special children are out of school in 2019. Council for the Welfare of Children Sub-Committee on Children with Disabilities conducted a survey in 2020. One of the concerns that arose was the inaccessibility of quality education.
The law also adheres to the United Nations’ recommendations of allowing special learners to participate in regular classroom settings. The UN conventions uphold the development of children through quality education.
Furthermore, Atty. Alberto Muyot of Save The Children Philippines calls on the government to fully implement inclusive education laws.
“Let us also continue to support the Disability Rights Movement… so these laws and policies could translate into actual disability-inclusive programs and services…,” Muyot said.
