DepEd to Congress: Pass Special Education Act ABS-CBN Researcher 2010 MANILA, Philippines - Some 5.

49 million children with special needs (CSNs) in the Philippines stand to benefit from the proposed Special Education Act of 2010 if Congress will ratify the bill this week. The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging the House of Representatives to act on it after the Senate passed its version early this week. The passage of this bill will be the 14th Congress parting gift and lasting legacy to the Filipino people since this will finally give due attention to the education of 5.49 million children with special needs and people with disability (PWD) in our country, said Education Secretary Mona D. Valisno. According to DepEd, there are 5.49 million CSNs in the Philippines representing 13 percent of the total population of children. Of this number, an estimated 4.2 million are PWDs (persons with disabilities) while 1.27 million are gifted children. Children with special needs are those who are autistic, gifted or talented, mentally retarded, visually impaired, hearing impaired, orthopedically or physically handicapped, learning disabled, speech defective, or with behavior problems. They also include children who encounter health problems under the formal educational system. A child is considered to have a need to train in a special education (SPED) center if he differs from the average child based on mental characteristics, sensory abilities, neuromuscular or physical characteristics, social abilities, multiple handicaps, or has a developmental lag. Valisno said only 2% of Filipino children with special needs receive support from the government. In other countries, such children get 100% support from the state. Special Education Act Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Miguel Zubiri authored and sponsored Senate Bill 2020, while Reps. Dodo Pingoy Jr. and Monica Louise "Nikki" Prieto-Teodoro authored and sponsored House Bill 6750. Both houses have passed their respective versions but the House has to concur with the Senate version for the bill to become law.

The Special Education Act will pave the way for the creation of a Bureau of Special Education along with existing bureaus of elementary, secondary, and alternative learning. It will also call for the creation of at least one SPED center in each city and province.

The new bureau will formulate an appropriate curriculum and developmentally-suited programs to achieve functional literacy for all children with special needs, said Education Assistant Secretary for legislative liaison Jonathan Malaya. Under the bill, the DepEd will prepare a scheme for financial and medical assistance, including nutritional programs, to poor but deserving CSNs. It will also draw up incentives to encourage the private sector to take part in the education and rehabilitation of CSNs. Malaya said that the bill will be a quantum leap for the special education sector because a large majority of this sector have not yet been provided with appropriate educational services.

Summary Special education or special needs education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community than would be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education. The summary of the current issues base on my research is about the population of Special Education or SPED and we have a 5,490,000 special needs like what other sayings if you are the teacher of this one of this child treat them like a special not because of their physical and emotion, We have many article to pass the bill for special children 14th Congress parting gift and lasting legacy to the Filipino people since this will finally give due attention to the education of 5.49 million children with special needs and people with disability (PWD) in our country, said Education Secretary Mona D. Valisno. Base on the DepEd, We have a 5.49 million total population of special children Common special needs include challenges with learning, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disorders l . Students with these kinds of special needs are likely to benefit from additional educational services such as different approaches to teaching, use of technology, a specifically adapted teaching area, or resource room. Intellectual giftedness is a difference in learning and can also benefit from specialized teaching techniques or different educational programs, but the term "special education" is generally used to specifically indicate instruction of students whose special needs reduce their ability to learn independently or in an ordinary classroom, and gifted education is handled separately. While 1.27 million special child are gifted children they also include children who encounter health problems under the formal educational system. A child is considered to have a need to train in a special education (SPED) center if he differs from the average child based on mental characteristics, sensory abilities, neuromuscular or physical characteristics, social abilities, multiple handicaps, or has a developmental lag. The government or the DepEd is prepare a scheme for the financial and medical assistance including nutrition programs and etc.

Protagonist: Positive For me the positive of my research is to know the population of the Special child here in the Philippines example like the percent of the Special needs and the gifted child sowe cant know how many they are, We know the Special children here cant afford the school like for them the good and better school to enroll them because of the high tuition and lock of the teachers and the helping of the government. We know the population and the bills for the Special children.

Antagonist: Negative The negative for me is the majority of the parents cant afford school for them to learn better because of the high tuition or the salary for needs of the special children in the Philippines we have a lot of special child but at the same time we have a lock of teachers to teach them, so I try to take the course of sped because of I want to learn them and to help them, The government helping each one, and the another negative for me is the heath problem of special children like visually impaired, hearing impaired, orthopedically or physically handicapped, learning disabled, speech defective, or with behavior problems the major problem for them so help them.

Analysis: Own My personal analysis for that is the like what is said is the population of them like the gifted child and special children the pass bills for special children The ultimate goal of special education in the public schools, according to the Special Education Division of DepEd, is the integration or mainstreaming of learners with special needs into the regular school system and eventually in the community, following the principles of The Salamanca Statement on Principles, Policy and Practice in Special Education. So must help them to graduate and achieved them dream and pursue our aim to help them and another is the government who is willing to help the special children .

RESEARCH WORK IN INTRO SPED 1

Submitted by: Astina C. Mandig ED: 101