NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed a law requiring all schools in the Philippines to provide inclusive education for disabled students.

No learner would be denied admission based on their impairment, according to Republic Act (RA) 11560, which Duterte signed on March 11.

According to the new law, all schools, whether public or private, must provide every learner with a handicap with fair access to a high-quality education.

“The policy of inclusion is hereby introduced in all public and private early and basic education schools,” the law stated.

All institutions must include RA 11560’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) into their admissions procedures and policies.

According to the statute, the IRR must incorporate assistive devices, facilities, and infrastructure in the admissions process, as well as other types of reasonable accommodation.

All learners with disabilities, whether in public or private schools, are entitled to services and reasonable accommodations based on their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), as well as the right to receive adequate assistance and related services under RA 11560.

Learning facility for students with special needs

The law also calls for the establishment of an Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILCR) for disabled students.

The ILRC will be a “physical or virtual center” that will provide free support services to learners with impairments as well as the implementation of inclusive education programs.

In the beginning, the Department of Education (DepEd) will work with local government units (LGUs) to develop and maintain at least one ILCR in each city and municipality.

Based on the multi-year plan of cities and municipalities and the availability of resources, ILCRs may be developed in every school district.

RA 11560 said, “All current SPED (Special Education) Centers will be changed to and rebranded as ‘Inclusive Learning Resource Center.'”

“LGUs may build satellite ILRCs in schools, whose operations and maintenance will be incorporated in the School Improvement Plan (SIP),” it continued.

The SIP will act as a road map for the school’s specific interventions and solutions to the identified priority improvement areas, with the goal of improving basic education access, quality, and governance.

“In conjunction with ILRCs within respective cities or towns, private early or basic education schools may also develop additional facilities needed for the teaching of learners with disabilities,” the law stated.

From the date of RA 11560’s enactment, all public and private basic educational institutions, as well as ILRCs, have five years to comply with the law’s provisions and obligations.

The mandate of the International Labor Rights Commissions (ILRCs)

ILRCs are required to adopt the Child Find System, which will identify, find, and evaluate all learners with disabilities who are not receiving early and basic education services.

They must also organize a multidisciplinary team to conduct education evaluations and diagnose learners with impairments, as well as identify specific developmental concerns and select suitable services and placement alternatives for the production of their IEPs.

An educational psychologist, guidance counselor, psychometrician, developmental pediatrician, neurological psychiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and pathologist, reading specialist, Braille specialist and interpreter, visual specialist, special needs teacher, and ILCR supervisor will make up the multidisciplinary team.

In addition, ILRCs must provide and facilitate consultative mechanisms, counseling, technical assistance, and training on the education of learners with disabilities to general basic education teachers, administrators, CDC child development workers, and teachers, non-teaching personnel, parents, care providers, guardians, or other family members.

Committee of advisors

The law also calls for the formation of an Advisory Committee for Learners with Disabilities Education.

A representation from the academe and members from several disability sectors will make up the committee.

Its responsibilities include developing policies, plans, and strategies for the education of disabled students, conducting research and policy studies on inclusive education, and monitoring the delivery of services to disabled students.

Schools that have been converted

Meanwhile, in various parts of the country, Duterte signed several legislation renaming and transforming schools.

The Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial School – Balbalan Proper Extension in Balbalan, Kalinga is renamed Eastern Balbalan National High School when RA 11651 transforms it into an independent national high school.

The Roberta de Jesus Elementary School – Disiplina Village Elementary School Extension in Bignay village, Valenzuela City, will be turned into an independent elementary school and renamed Disiplina Village Elementary School, according to RA 11652.

After being turned into an independent senior high school, RA 11653 renamed Lydia D. Martinez Memorial High School – Sugod Senior High School Extension at Bacon District in Sorsogon City as Sugod Senior High School.

Arcelo Memorial National High School – Liloan National High School Annex at Liloan, Cebu was renamed Liloan National High School after it was turned into an autonomous national high school under RA 11654.

After it was turned into an autonomous national high school, RA 11655 altered the name of the Arena Blanco National High School – Tigtabon Annex in Tigtabon, Zamboanga City to Tigtabon National High School.

According to RA 11656, Manicahan National High School – Lamisahan Annex in Zamboanga City will henceforth be called as Lamisahan National High School after being converted into an autonomous national high school.

The Libudon National High School – Sanghay Extension in Mati City, Davao Oriental is converted into an autonomous national high school and renamed Sanghay National High School by Republic Act 11657.

On March 11, Duterte signed RAs 11651, 11652, 11653, 11654, 11655, 11656, and 11657.

On Tuesday, Malacanang distributed a copy of the laws.

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