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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Gatchalian urges gov't to fully enforce inclusive education law for students with disabilities  

Gatchalian urges gov't to fully enforce inclusive education law for students with disabilities  

Published Apr 4, 2023 01:46 am
  Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged authorities to expedite the release of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the law on inclusive education for learners with disabilities.   Gatchalian is referring to Republic Act No. 11650 or an Act Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act which was signed into law by then President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2022.   The senator said the law’s IRR is important since it will provide the minimum services and conditions in the admissions systems and policies of all schools.   This includes the provision of assistive devices, facilities and infrastructure in the admission process and other forms of reasonable accommodation for learners with disabilities.   Gatchalian pointed out that even the United States Department of State has taken note that the law was not effectively enforced and that many barriers remain, including architectural barriers that made attendance difficult for persons with disabilities (PWDs), based on their 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in the Philippines.   According to the senator, “stakeholders and advocates have also lamented the non-issuance of the law’s IRR after more than a year since it was passed.”    The US Department of State Report, he said, also noted that the government lacked a clear system for informing parents of children with disabilities of their educational rights and did not have a well-defined procedure for reporting discrimination in education.   Gatchalian said that in order to ensure the progressive realization of the objectives of RA 11650, the crafting of a multi-year roadmap is required to guide government agencies and private stakeholders.    The law provides a multi-year roadmap that should contain the current policy, practices, gaps, and challenges affecting the early and basic education of learners with disabilities. The government has a minimum of five years to set detailed targets and outcomes for the law.   While it may take some time before the law can be fully implemented, the senator said the government can utilize the P160-million under the 2023 national budget that is alloted for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) capital outlay to allow each region to convert at least one Special Education Center (SPED) into a model Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC).   Because under the law, the establishment of at least one ILRC for Learners with Disabilities in every city and municipality is mandated. These ILRCs will be tasked to implement inclusive education programs and deliver free support services to learners with disabilities.   “This will steadily expand access to inclusive education programs,” Gatchalian said.       

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