SPECIAL EDUCATION

Designed instruction to meet the individual needs of special student. It is an individually planned,
systematically implemented, and carefully evaluated instruction to help exceptional children achieve the
greatest possible personal self – sufficiency and success in present and future environments.

The Department of Education is envisioned to; by the 21st century, the child with special needs will get
full parental and community support for his/her education without discrimination. He / She should also
be provided with a healthy environment along with leisure and recreation and social security measures.

The Goal of Special Education programs is to provide children with special needs appropriate
educational services within the mainstream of Basic Education.

Special Education aims to provide a flexible and individualized support system for children and youth
with special needs in a regular class environment, provide support services, vocational programs and
work training, employment opportunities for efficient community participation and independent living,
implement a life – long curriculum include early intervention and parent education as preparation for
college and make available an array of educational programs and services.

POLICY, GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

The policy on inclusive education for all is adopted in the Philippines to accelerate access to education
among children and youth with special needs. Inclusive education forms an integral component of the
overall educational system that is committed to an appropriate education for all children and youth with
special needs.

The goal of the special education programs of the department of education all over the country is to
provide children with special needs appropriate educational services within the mainstream of basic
education. The two-pronged goal include the development of key strategies on legislation, human
resource development, family involvement and active participation of government and non-government
organizations. Likewise, there are major issues to address on attitudinal barriers of the general public
and effort towards the institutionalization and sustainability of special education programs and services.
Special education aims to:

1. Provide a flexible and individualized support system for children and youth with special needs in a
regular class environment in schools nearest the student’s home,

2. Provide support services, vocational programs and work training, employment opportunities for
efficient community participation and independent living,

3. Implement a life – long curriculum to include early intervention and parent education, basic
education, and transition programs on vocational training or preparation for college, and

4. Make available an array of educational programs and services: the special education center built on “a
school within a school concept” as the resource center for children and youth with special needs;
inclusive education in regular schools, special and residential schools, homebound instruction, hospital
instruction and community – based programs; alternative modes of service delivery tom reach the
disadvantaged children in far-flung towns, depressed areas and underserved barangays.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Process of inclusion by which a school accepts children with special needs for enrollment in regular
classes where they can learn side by side with their peers. The school provides the mainstream where
regular teachers and special education teachers organize and implement appropriate programs for both
special and regular students.

What is “inclusive education”? According to UNESCO, inclusive education is seen as “a process of

addressing and responding to the diversity of needs of all learners through increasing participation in
learning, cultures and communities, and reducing exclusion from education and from within education.”

Inclusion means implementing and maintaining warm and accepting classroom communities

That embrace and respect diversity or differences. Teachers and students take active steps to
understand individual differences and create an atmosphere of respect.

Inclusion implements a multilevel, multimodality curriculum. This means that special needs students
follow an adapted curriculum and use special devices and materials to learn at a suitable pace.

Inclusion prepares regular teachers and special education teachers to teach interactively. Students tend
to learn with and from each other rather than compete with each other.

Provides continuous support for teachers to break down barriers of professional isolation. The hallmarks
of inclusive education are co – teaching, team teaching, collaboration and consultation and any other
ways of assessing skills and knowledge learned by all students.

GOALS: The goal is that the whole education system will facilitate learning environments where teachers
and learners embrace and welcome the challenge and benefits of diversity. Within an inclusive
education approach, learning environments are fostered where individual needs are met and every
student has an opportunity to succeed

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of inclusive education is to educate disabled students in the regular
classroom and still meet their individual needs. Inclusive education allows children with special needs to
receive a free and appropriate education along with non-disabled students in the regular classroom.

The Department of Education and Special Education Division of the Bureau of Elementary Education
manages and supervises the special education program all over the country. Special Education enables
exceptional children to study in regular schools or in special schools.