What Is Philippine Inclusive Education?

The Philippines has been implementing various programs and initiatives to support inclusive education, including the “Inclusive Education for All” program. The Philippines’ Response to Indigenous and Muslim Education (PRIME) program is an education development initiative of the Department of Education that seeks to ensure that all children have access to appropriate, relevant, affordable, and effective education. Inclusive education contributes to the realization of the Department’s commitment to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education.

The K to 12 program broadened the goals of basic education by providing a wider range of options not only for higher education but also for lower education. Under the new law, the Department of Education (DepEd) is mandated to establish at least one Inclusive Learning Resource Centers of Learners with Disabilities (ILRC) in all cities and municipalities. Inclusive education embraces the philosophy of accepting all children regardless of race, size, shape, color, ability, or disability with support from school staff, students, parents, and the community.

A comprehensive inclusive program for children with special needs has the components of Child Find, which involves the active participation of students, families, educators, and other community members in the planning process. Inclusive education places diverse Filipino learners at the heart of education, emphasizing acceptance, equal opportunities, and non-discriminatory practices.

Inclusive education is about implementing and maintaining warm and accepting classroom communities that embrace and respect diversity and difference. The law has at least 13 objectives that focus on the equitable access of LWDs and LSENs to quality basic education free from biases and discrimination.

What is the current issue in special education in the Philippines?

The special education program in the Philippines is confronting a substantial obstacle due to a dearth of assistance in the realms of curriculum, instructional materials, and specialized equipment.

What is the most common barrier to inclusive education?

Inclusive education is crucial as it ensures equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their differences in intellectual skills, physical appearance, name, values, culture, and background. However, there are several challenges to achieving inclusive education, including lack of accessibility, inadequate support systems, financial constraints, and limited parental involvement. Accessibility is a major issue, as schools often lack proper facilities to meet the essential needs of disabled students.

Financial constraints can also hinder the implementation of inclusive education, as it often requires significant financial investment. Despite these challenges, inclusive education remains a vital aspect of promoting a more inclusive and inclusive society.

What is the best example for inclusive education?

Inclusive classrooms are designed to accommodate students with a range of learning styles and ability levels, including those who are gifted, auditory, visual, or disabled, as well as those in wheelchairs and those with executive functioning issues.

What are the laws about inclusive education in the Philippines?

The Inclusion Policy for Learners with Disabilities in Public and Private Schools aims to ensure equitable access to quality education for all learners with disabilities. This policy includes minimum services and conditions in admissions systems and policies, such as providing assistive devices, facilities, infrastructure, and reasonable accommodation. All learners with disabilities, whether enrolled in public or private schools, will be accorded services and reasonable accommodation based on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and have the right to avail of appropriate support and related services under Section 7 of this Act.

What is inclusive education in the Philippines deped order?

DepEd acknowledges the right of every learner to an inclusive education that is learner-centered, relevant, and appropriate, regardless of their characteristics. The Department’s inclusive basic education system prioritizes learners’ participation and representation in school organizations, curricular activities, and planning. The K to 12 curriculum, which emphasizes inclusion, is a key standard and principle, supported by other principles such as learner-centered, developmentally appropriate, culture-sensitive, relevant, gender-responsive, and contextualized.

Inclusive Education is at the core of the K to 12 curriculum, as demonstrated by the Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) policy for K to 3, the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) offerings in Junior High School, and the tracks and strands of Senior High School. These programs are designed to be responsive to the diverse context of the country’s learners.

How will you describe the inclusive education in the Philippines?

The Inclusive Education program is designed to address the diverse needs of students in a manner that ensures their holistic development through the provision of tailored educational services.

How many schools are offering inclusive education in the Philippines?

The 2019 sales report discloses that there are merely 648 special education centers and conventional schools offering inclusive education, with 471 catering to elementary students and 177 to high school students.

Who started inclusive education in the Philippines?

In 1907, the Insular School for the Deaf and the Blind was established in Pasay City, Metro Manila, as a special education facility in the Philippines. In 1997, the Department of Education officially adopted inclusive education as a viable alternative to build a separate special education infrastructure for children with disabilities. This article reports on the current state of inclusive education in the Philippines, presenting the ‘Silahis Centres’ concept as a feasible model for implementing and promoting inclusion of children with disabilities within regular schools.

Other aspects related to inclusive education, such as teacher education, policies, lessons learned, and future challenges, are also discussed. The article provides 48 hours access to both PDF and online versions.

What is the model of inclusion in the Philippines?

The Philippines’ mainstreaming program, which may be partial or total, represents a model of inclusive education, as exemplified by the Special Education Center, which is integrated into regular elementary or secondary schools.

What are the 5 challenges of inclusive education in the Philippines?

The second special needs education strategy aims to address challenges related to the education of special children, such as limited access, inadequate quality improvements, weak capacity to plan and manage the education system, low awareness, poor teaching skills, insufficient trained support staff, inaccessible and unsafe built environments, insufficient materials, lack of interpreters for deaf learners, and graduates lacking practical skills.

The South Nation Nationalities People Region (SNNPR) education office is currently working on encouraging participation and supporting special needs children in education systems through developing strategic plans, guidelines, capacity building, resource centers, trainings, and awareness raising programs.

However, the SNNPR education sector faces challenges such as not paying attention to budget for inclusive education, unorganized development, lack of responsibility, viewing disability issues as NGOs issues, lack of policy guidance, lack of resources, limitations of professionals, and inadequate awareness in society and stakeholders.

Proper inclusion can be achieved by removing barriers, providing placement based on child productivity, and facilitating competitive academic achievement environments in inclusive schools. Inclusive education requires commitment and accountability from educators at all levels of education and support from stakeholders. A feasibility study is needed to identify practices, opportunities, and challenges of inclusive education at the zonal level.

What are the problems with inclusion in the Philippines?

The Philippines has made significant strides in addressing inclusion in special education, focusing on integrating learners with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. The Inclusive Education Framework mandates that learners with disabilities attend regular schools, supported by special education teachers. Inclusive education is recognized as a human right, promoting equitable access to quality education for all students. Teacher training and attitudes are crucial for successful inclusion, and continuous professional development and training modules are recommended to equip teachers with the necessary skills.

Collaboration and community involvement are essential for fostering an inclusive environment, enhancing child development, and addressing educational gaps. However, challenges such as insufficient training, resources, and varying levels of preparedness among educators persist, highlighting the need for ongoing support and systemic improvements in inclusive education practices.