DepEd launches Gabay Project for children with special needs

THE Department of Education (DepEd), together with the Resources for the Blind Inc. and the United States Agency for International Development ( USAid), launched recently the Gabay Project for children with special needs. The project aims to increase access to quality education of children with sensory impairment for the attainment of improved education and literacy outcomes through early detection, instruction, and support for the blind, deaf and deaf-blind children. It also seeks to improve the abilities of teachers in delivering appropriate learning plans for persons with disabilities.

Samuel Soliven, officer in charge of the Bureau of Curriculum Development, said children with special needs, especially those with multiple disabilities, deserve kindness, love and guidance in pursuit of their dreams.

He added that DepEd was one with the USAid Gabay Project and all stakeholders in the implementation of inclusive education. He further highlighted that Sustainable Development Goals 4 ensure “inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong opportunities for all.”

Batangas City, Batangas province, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon province, Maasin City and Southern Leyte would be the beneficiaries of the project, DepEd said.

The target beneficiaries of the project are children enrolled from kindergarten to Grade 3 or the levels with high drop out rates.

The project also aims to build on past experiences by employing universal design strategies. Working closely with DepEd are the Disabled Peoples’ Organization, local government units, Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Innovation in Inclusive Education for Children with Sensorial Disabilities, and a network of agencies composed of Better Hearing Philippines, Deaf- blind Support of the Philippines and Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology.

According to data by the DepEd-Bureau of Learning DeliveryStudent Inclusion Division, the total enrollment in Special Education ( SPED) in School Year 2016- 2017 was 238, 576. Of this, 110, 346 were in grade school, while 128, 230 were in high school.

DepEd data also showed that there are only 678 schools in 258 divisions nationwide that offer SPED programs. Of this, 501 schools in 195 divisions are elementary, while 177 schools in 63 divisions are secondary.