Special
Education
The White Paper on Education, Charting
our Education Future (1995), states:
ALL STUDENTS, regardless of their
personal circumstances, HAVE A
RIGHT of access to and participation in
the education system, according to their
potential and ability.
DEFINITION: SPECIAL EDUCATION
OR SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION
- is a form of learning provided to students
with exceptional needs, such as students
with learning disabilities or mental
challenges.
It also refers to the arrangement of teaching
procedures, adapted equipment and materials,
accessible settings, and other interventions
designed to address the needs of students with
learning differences, mental health issues,
physical and developmental disabilities, and
giftedness.
VISION FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
“The State, community and family hold a common
vision for the Filipino child with special needs. By the
21st century, it is envisioned that he/she could be
adequately provided with basic education. This
education should fully realize his/her own potentials
for development and productivity as well as being
capable of self-expression of his/her rights in society.
More importantly, he/she is God-loving and proud of
being a Filipino.
GOAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
- to provide children with special needs
appropriate educational services within
the mainstream of basic education.
OBJECTIVES OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION
Provide a flexible and individualized
support system for children and youth
with special needs in a regular class
environment in schools nearest the
students’ home.
Special Education Act of 2007 identifies ten groups
of Children with Special Needs (CSNs):
1. gifted children and fast learners
2. mentally handicapped/mentally retarded
3. visually impaired
4. hearing impaired
5. children with behavior problems
6. orthopedically handicapped
7. children with special health problems
8. children with learning disabilities (perceptual
handicap, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction,
dyslexia and developmental aphasia)
9. speech impaired
10. persons with autism
Legal basis of
special education
Special education in the
Philippines is anchored on
the following fundamental
legal basis
Articles 356 and 259 of
Commonwealth Act No. 3203
"the right of every child to live in an atmosphere
conducive to his physical, moral and intellectual
development" and the concomitant duty of the
government "to promote the full growth of the faculties
of every child."
Republic Act No. 3562: "An Act to
Promote the Education of the Blind in the
Philippines
provided for the formal training of special education teachers
of blind children at the Philippine Normal College, the
rehabilitation of the Philippine National School for the Blind
(PNSB) and the establishment of the Philippine Printing
House of the Blind
Republic Act No. 5250: "An Act Establishing a
Ten-Year Teacher Training Program for Teachers
of Special and Exceptional Children."
provided for the formal training of teachers for deaf,
hard-of-hearing, speech handicapped, socially and
emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded and mentally
gifted and youth at the Philippine Normal College and
the University of the Philippines
Articles 3 and 74 of the Presidential
Decree No. 603 of 1975
"The emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted child shall be
treated with sympathy and understanding and shall be given the
education and care required by his particular condition."
"Thus, where needs warrant, there shall be at least special classes in
every province, and if possible, special schools for the physically
handicapped, the mentally retarded, the emotionally disturbed and the
mentally gifted. The private sector shall be given all the necessary
inducement and encouragement."
Education Act of 1982 or
Batas Pambansa Bilang 232
"The State shall promote the right of every individual to
relevant quality education regardless of sex, age, breed,
socioeconomical status, physical and mental condition, social
and ethnic origin, political and other affiliations. The State
shall therefore promote and maintain equality of access to
education as well as enjoyment of the benefits of education
by all its citizens."
Section 24 of BP 232:
"Special Education Services"
"the State further recognizes its responsibility to provide, within the
context of the formal education system services to meet special needs
of certain clientele. These specific types shall be guided by the basic
policies of state embodied on General Provisions of this Act which
include the education of persons who are physically, mentally,
emotionally, socially, culturally different from the so-called 'normal'
individuals that they require modification of school practices/services
to develop to their maximum capacity."
Article XIV, Sections 1 and 2 of the 1987
Constitution of the Philippines
"The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all."
"The State shall provided adult citizens the disabled and out-of-
school youth with training in civics, vocational efficiency and
other skills."
Republic Act No. 7277:
Magna Carta for Persons with
Disabilities
An Act Providing For The Rehabilitation, Self-
Development And Self-Reliance Of Disabled
Person And Their Integration Into The
Mainstream Of Society And For Other Purposes .
Persons with disability are part of Philippine society, and thus
the State shall give full support to the improvement of their
total well being and their integration into the mainstream of
society. They have the same rights as other people to take their
proper place in society. They should be able to live freely and
as independently as possible. This must be the concern of
everyone the family, community and all government and non-
government organizations. Rights of persons with disability
must never be perceived as welfare services. Prohibitions on
verbal, non-verbal ridicule and vilification against persons
with disability shall always be observed at all times.
Republic Act No. 9442
An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise
known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability
as Amended, and For Other Purposes’ Granting
Additional Privileges and Incentives and Prohibitions on
Verbal, Non-Verbal Ridicule and Vilification Against
Persons with Disability.
