7/28/2019 Caring for Our Special Children
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CARING FOR OUR SPECIAL
CHILDRENManila BulletinSat, Sep 15, 2012
THE Department of Education estimates that 5.4 million children,
or over 13 percent of all
children in the country, have special needs. They may be blind,
deaf, mute, or suffering from
some other physical handicap. Others have autism, or are
afflicted with intellectual,
psychological, or physiological limitations. Still others are
unfortunately bedridden, unable to
attend school or lead a normal life. On the other hand, the
remaining 1.2 million of these
special children exhibit superior intelligence, exceptional
creativity, or acute talent for
leadership and organization.
Whichever category, these children have needs so specific that
modified schooling practices
are necessary for their education. And yet there are only 155
special education centers in the
whole country, reaching a minuscule 3 percent.
It is urgent to institute mechanisms of care for our special
children. Last week, I sponsored on
the Senate floor the Special Education Act, a consolidation of
several related bills into one
program to address the neglected state of our special
children.
The Special Education Act will grant our children access to
specialized education in all
public and private elementary and secondary schools throughout
the country. It will establishthe Bureau of Special Education
(BSPED) - a body to formulate and administer a curriculum
for special kids, a continuing research on programs and
interventions on how they can lead
more independent and participative lives, and implement
recreational and artistic activities. It
will also provide financial and medical assistance to the poor
among them.
At least one SPED Center will be set up in each school division,
and at least three larger
divisions. These centers will complement regular schools through
training and tailor-made
teaching modules and materials. Specially trained teachers will
staff each center, together
with an educational psychologist, a social worker, and a city or
municipal health officer.
The counterpart measure has been approved in the Lower House,
and I am optimistic it willlikewise be passed in the Senate
shortly.
Our country's special children are a gift and responsibility
entrusted to us. By providing better
educational assistance and support, we help raise awareness,
understanding and acceptance of
them among classmates and the community. We also give them and
their families a broader
range of options - and a future filled with hope.
Email: [email protected] Website: www.edangara.com
http://www.mb.com.ph/
