Inclusivity Reigns in The Pandemic
by Shanley Albeus and Sam Sioco
On March 11, 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law mandating all schools in the Philippines to provide students with disabilities with quality, safe, and inclusive education.
Learners with disabilities have been one of the most affected sectors in our country due to the lack
of support and accessibility to services they’ve been getting at these trying times. The problem is
that SPED teachers in public schools usually handle a class of students with different disabilities.
Hence in the distance learning approach, they need to hire trained instructors to manage these
learners.
Learning also requires parents to be active in the learning process. They must facilitate and guide
their children through the modular lessons sent to them. However, many parents do not understand
lessons easily, some are too busy to prioritize their work to provide for their families, and other
students lack parents altogether.
At some point, distance learning tends to be self-paced, but it can be difficult for students to stay
motivated. Many students have attention spans shorter than others, and they might not respond
well to non-human interactions. These factors can make distance learning difficult, especially for
students with special needs.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11650 ensures better opportunities by providing learners with disabilities
inclusive learning resource centers composed of multidisciplinary professionals, accessible
materials, a child-find system, development training for teachers and caretakers, and consultative
mechanisms.
With the enactment of RA 11650, children’s rights groups have released statements expressing
their sentiments. Children Rights Network (CRN), the largest alliance of organizations and
agencies advocating for children’s rights legislation in the country, commended the passage of the
law. They claimed that it was “another win for child rights advocates all over the country.”
Meanwhile, Save the Children Philippines conveyed their appeal for further actions. “While this
law paves the way for improved programs and services for learners with disabilities, Save the
Children recognizes that there is more to be done to raise awareness on child and human rights-
based approaches to disability, fulfilling learners with disabilities’ right to learn alongside their
peers, and eradicating the deep-seated stigma against learners with disabilities,” the group stated.
REFERENCES:
​
Casilao, J.L. (2022, March 17). Duterte signs law on free basic education for students with
disabilities. GMA News. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/825328/duterte-signs-law-on-free- basic-education-for-students-with disabilities/story/
​
Save the Children (2022, March 11). Save the children statement on the enactment of RA 11650: inclusive education. Save the Children. https://www.savethechildren.org.ph/our-work/our-stories/story/save-the-children-statement-on-the-enactment-of-ra-11650-inclusive-education/
​
Magsambol, B. (2021, December 9). Distance learning: A looming crisis for students with special needs. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/263290-distance-learning-looming-crisis-students-with-special-needs/