RIGHT OF ALL LEARNERS TO GET EDUCATION

MINA B. BATAC

THE Department of Education (DepEd) recognizes the urgency to address the problems with regard to special education and Inclusive Education. Reiterating the right of learners to receive the appropriate education, mechanisms have been adopted during the pandemic, which is part of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP). The department has also collaborated with stakeholders and partners in promoting a sense of belonging and empowerment for children with special needs. The agency recognizes the important role of all sectors of the society in achieving its goals for the inclusion of learners with autism. The DepEd said that by working together with stakeholders, listening to their experiences and finding ways within the system to create opportunities for meaningful collaboration, there will be better services to learners. According to the agency, the support for all children with disabilities, regardless of the nature and severity of their disability, and the need for related services are being recognized and catered. Likewise, it ensures that these learners receive appropriate education whether in the regular face to face classroom setting or a specialized set-up during this time of pandemic. Earlier conference and gatherings have focused on the societal awareness of the uniqueness of Filipinos on the spectrum, the inclusive development in human rights, education, employment, media, among others, and individual self-awareness, self-expression, and feeling of belonging to a compassionate society. The Special Education (SPED) program of DepEd is adoptive to the inclusive education needed by the learners with disabilities. The Department launched various initiatives to ensure SPED will remain inclusive even in the new normal settings of basic education.

-oOoThe author is Teacher III at San Fernando Elementary School