Special education pertains to the array of teaching procedures, utilized equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other means designed to attend to the needs of students with learning differences, mental health issues, physical and developmental disabilities, and giftedness. Special education was inferred from two provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Article II, Section 17 stipulates that the state must give priority to education, while Article XIV, Section 1 assures that this education be available to all: suitable steps must be taken.
Chapter II of Title II of the Magna Carta for Disable Persons, RA 7277, posits some rules on special education in the Philippines. Sec. 12 mandates that the “State shall take into consideration the special requirements of disabled persons in the formulation of educational policies and programs.” In this regard, learning institutions are encouraged “to take into account the special needs of disabled persons with respect to the use of school facilities, class schedules, physical education requirements, and other pertinent consideration.” In particular, learning institutions are encouraged to provide “auxiliary services that will facilitate the learning process for disabled persons.”
Sec. 14 of RA 7277 states that the State “shall establish, maintain and support complete, adequate and integrated system of special education for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, mentally retarded persons and other types of exceptional children in all regions of the country.”
However, to date, there is still no comprehensive law mandating special education in the Philippines. There are two pending Senate bills: SB No. 517, introduced by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and SB No. 2020, introduced by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. Both bills are still pending on the Committee Level.
The bills stipulate concerns for the students needing special education, their parents, and their teachers and/or caregivers. The loftiest ideal as identified by the bill of Senator Estrada is to “effectuate significant and positive changes in community attitudes towards disability and the need to provide special education, care and other needs of children with special needs. (Sec. 3, para. g).” The bill of Senator Santiago is almost the same.
By: Ma. Janette G. Manlapaz | Special Education Teacher I | Liyang Elementary School | Pilar, Bataan
