Recently, our country has started shifting to inclusive classrooms. This is in response to Republic Act No. 11650 of 2022 which mandates the Department of Education to provide learners with disabilities access to the general education system through formal school systems. This Act is known as the “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act”.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word inclusion means the act or practice of including students with disabilities with the general student population while Cambridge Dictionary defines the word inclusion as the act of including someone or something as part of a group or a person or thing that is included.
When I first learned about inclusion, I feel happy. I was delighted because my child with autism will be given an equal opportunity to learn and develop her potential in a classroom that welcomes everyone. I have so much anxiety about my daughter’s future. The fear that I have as a mother of a child with special needs is so different from the typical worries of other parents. But this inclusive education has given me so much comfort and confidence in the Philippines’ education system. This inclusion is about accepting and respecting people as they are.
In 2019, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued DepEd Order No. 21, on Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program which includes a policy framework on inclusive education. This framework stipulates that every Filipino has the right to education. Each child has the chance to receive quality and complete basic education. The implementation of K-12 guidelines is one of the important reforms in the country. It ensures every Filipino is given a chance for equality. This includes the right of every child with special needs to attend formal schooling in an inclusive environment.
In the inclusive classroom, students with intellectual or physical disabilities are learning along with other students. The very purpose of having an inclusive classroom is to help students with special needs learn and grow in a flexible learning environment, where they are given a chance to reach their potential and develop holistically (Dela Fuente 2021).
On March 11, 2022, President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11650 (2022). This is an act instituting a policy of inclusion and services for learners with disabilities in support of inclusive education. It is mandated that every learner with a disability be provided with appropriate funds for education. This is done by establishing resource centers that will cater to the needs of the students. It is also stipulated in this Republic Act that the State must protect and promote quality education at all levels. This step is to make education possible for every Filipino including those belonging to minorities and learners with disabilities.
Studies about inclusion in the Philippines show a positive effect on students with or without disabilities. It was reported that inclusive education can provide a range of academic and social benefits, especially for students with disabilities. Likewise, regular schools like a government elementary or high school with an inclusive orientation are the most effective means of combating discriminatory attitudes, creating welcoming communities, building an inclusive society, and achieving education for all; moreover, they provide effective education to most children and improve efficiency.
References:
Dela Fuente, J.A. (2021). Implementing inclusive education in the Philippines: College teacher experiences with deaf students. Issues in Educational Research, 31(1), 94-110.
http://www.iier.org.au/iier31/dela-fuente.pdf
Department of Education Order No. 21, s. 2019, “Policy Guidelines on the K-12 Basic Education Program. “
Republic Act No. 11650, “An Act Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in support of Inclusive Education, Establishing Inclusive Learning Resource
By: Joselyn L. Gardoci|Teacher III|Bataan National High School|Balanga City, Bataan
