NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines – On Thursday, a party-list lawmaker stated that the enactment of the law requiring all schools to provide inclusive education for learners with disabilities (LWDs) is another step forward in promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs).

France Castro, ACT Teachers Representative, applauded President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing of Republic Act (RA) 11560, describing it as another victory for LWDs and disability education advocates who have endured “multiple years, if not decades” of struggle to convince the government of their right to education.

Castro noted that the vast majority of PWDs are unable to study in public schools due to a lack of teachers, learning resources, and facilities that are appropriate for their needs.

“No child should be left behind, and our educational system should be adjusted to meet the needs of our LWDs,” Castro stated.

According to her, the new law would also serve as a continuation of the Philippine Sign Language Act.

She noted that one of the law’s central tenets is the principle of “reasonable accommodation,” which is mandated by a number of international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the UNESCO Salamanca Statement.

“With reasonable accommodation as the guiding principle, the government is obligated to consider how to adjust the educational system to meet the needs of a child, rather than simply deciding where to place him or her,” she explained.

Other significant provisions of the law include the prohibition of all forms of discrimination against LWDs, including the denial of reasonable accommodation; the inclusion policy provision that no school shall close its doors to any learner solely on the basis of his or her disability; and the Child Find System, which identifies LWDs as young as three years old and up to 24 years old in order to integrate them into the basic education system.

Additionally, the law establishes the Inclusive Learning Resource Center for Learners with Disabilities (ILRC), a physical or virtual center that provides support and services related to teaching and learning.

Castro stated that the law contains several commitments regarding the provision of instructional materials for LWDs, the hiring, training, and compensation of teachers who work with LWDs or Special Needs Education students, as well as other ILRC personnel and learners assistance.

“We strongly urge the government to implement this law as soon as possible and to immediately craft the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the benefit of our LWDs, as well as the implementing agencies to ensure that there is sufficient funding for its initial and continued implementation as included in their respective budgetary allocations,” she said.

RA 11560, which Duterte signed on March 11, states that no learner shall be denied admission on the basis of a disability.

The new law requires that all schools, public or private, ensure that all learners with disabilities have equitable access to a high-quality education.

“All early and basic education schools, public and private, are hereby mandated to implement an inclusionary policy,” the law stated.

RA 11560’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) must be incorporated into all schools’ admission systems and policies.

According to the law, the IRR must include the provision of assistive devices, facilities, and infrastructure, as well as other forms of reasonable accommodation, during the admission process.

According to RA 11560, all learners with disabilities, whether enrolled 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 access appropriate support and related services.

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