IncluED: Inclusive Education Dialogues 2018
EVERY child should have access to and not be excluded from education regardless of background or ability. This message was underscored during the recent symposium on the present state of inclusive education in the country, at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzales (ARG) Theater, 5th Floor of the DLS-CSB Taft Campus.
Organized by the Virlanie Foundation Inc., in cooperation with the Center for Social Action (CSA) and the Center for Inclusive Education (CIE) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde ( DLS- CSB), the event created awareness through meaningful discussions among different sectors of the society regarding mass-oriented schooling.
The event likewise mobilized the participants to achieve the common goal of providing accessible quality education, and addressed the needs of all learners regardless of age, gender identity, religion, disability and other characteristics that are subject to social exclusion.
During the dialogue, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture shared the plans, programs, and projects of the government regarding this issue.
“Every child has the right to an education commensurate with their abilities and to the development of their skills for the improvement of their capacity for service to themselves and to their countrymen,” Gatchalian said.
“A lot of our programs became successful with the help of the local government. It is very important to engage our Mayors, because I believe, they are the catalysts of change. Make them conscious that we have a lot of children being excluded by our society and our educational system, so that they will be included,” he added.
The senator filed Senate Bill No. 996 or the Inclusive Education for Children and Youth with Special Needs Act of 2016 in an ambitious move to integrate millions of excluded children with special requirements into the nation’s public education system through a comprehensive inclusive education policy framework.
“Some children have lots of things to learn and to be corrected during their minority age, and this should happen in a home where they will be given more opportunities,” said Thomas Mouliac, executive director of Virlanie Foundation Inc.
Virlanie Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization that reaches out to orphaned, abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected and the poorest among the poor children. The organization cares for over 17,000 Filipino children who require special protection and strives to build a better future by giving them back their smiles.
Meanwhile, Maria Veronica Perez, CIE Director discussed the projects of DLS-CSB on inclusive education and the College’s roles in providing quality education for those who are needful. “Benilde in general, and the CIE in particular will assist in building a just and humane society by being at the forefront of innovative education that is accessible to poor and diversely-gifted learners,” Perez said.
CIE aims to build the culture of inclusion through the creation and management of programs and activities for diversely- gifted learners including, but not limited to, Persons with Disabilities ( PWDs), those with special education needs and indigenous peoples.
CSA advocates for a socially involved Benildean community. Guided by the Principles of La Sallian Social Development, it strives to spark in all Benildeans a compasionate spirit in addressing contemporary social issues. The CSA works in solidarity with different associations and institutions to create a community of socially responsible individuals.