Historical, Philosophical, Theoretical, and Legal Community engagement and partnerships: Creating a

Foundations of Inclusive Education in the Philippines: A supportive environment for inclusive education through
Journey to Shared Learning collaboration with families and civil society
organizations.
Understanding the evolution of inclusive education in
the Philippines requires a multi-faceted lens, looking at Increased awareness and advocacy: Public campaigns
the historical, philosophical, theoretical, and legal and initiatives to challenge stigma and promote
underpinnings. Let's delve into each aspect: understanding of disability.

3. Supporting Legislations:

1. Eras of Inclusive Education in the Philippines:

Constitution of the Philippines: Guarantees the right to

education for all citizens, regardless of disability.
Pre-Colonial Era: Education was informal and catered to
specific social classes. While exclusion existed, there Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (RA 7277):
were instances of community support for individuals Mandates inclusive education in both public and private
with disabilities. schools.

Colonial Era (1565-1946): Segregation became the Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533): Requires schools to
norm, with separate institutions established for develop and implement inclusive education policies and
"defectives" (term used at the time). Some religious practices.
organizations offered education for the blind and deaf.
DepEd Order No. 70, s. 2017: Guidelines for the
Post-Colonial Era (1946-present): This era saw a shift Implementation of Inclusive Education in Schools.
towards integration and inclusion. Key milestones
DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2022: Policy on the
include:
Identification, Evaluation, and Placement of Learners
1963: Republic Act 3562 established the National School with Special Education Needs.
for the Crippled Children as the first public school for
These are just some of the key points to consider. It's
children with disabilities.
important to remember that the journey towards
1972: Constitution recognized the right of all to quality inclusive education is ongoing, requiring continuous
education. policy reform, resource allocation, and attitudinal
change.
1983: Batasang Pambansa Bilang 232 created the
Bureau of Elementary Compensatory Education, later
evolving into the Bureau of Special Needs Education
(BSNED).

1987 Constitution: Reiterated the right to education for

all, regardless of disability.

1993: Education for All Philippines was adopted,

promoting education for marginalized groups, including
those with disabilities.

2006: Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (RA 7277)

mandated inclusive education, requiring regular schools
to accommodate diverse learners.

2015: Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533) further

enshrined inclusive education principles and established
the Center for Educational Assessment (CEA) to support
learners with diverse needs.

2. Key Developments in Inclusive Education Practice:

Shift from segregation to integration: Focus on

modifying regular classrooms and curriculum to
accommodate diverse learners.

Development of assessment tools and teaching

strategies: Emphasis on individualized education plans
(IEPs) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
principles.

Teacher training and professional development:

Equipping educators with skills to cater to diverse
learners.
Certainly, I can provide you with a brief overview of the - Promoted the establishment of special education
historical, philosophical, theoretical, and legal centers and programs.
foundations of special and inclusive education, with a
focus on the Philippines. Please note that this
information is based on my knowledge as of January **c. Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled
2022, and there may have been further developments Persons):**
since then.
- Enacted in 1992, it promotes the integration, self-
reliance, and independence of disabled persons.
### 1) Different Eras: - Advocates for equal access to education and
employment.

**a. Pre-Modern Era:**

**d. Department of Education Order No. 72, s. 2009:**
- Historically, individuals with disabilities were often
marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. - Encourages inclusive education practices in regular
schools.
- Limited educational opportunities were available, and
societal perceptions often led to discrimination and - Provides guidelines for accommodating students with
neglect. disabilities.

**b. Medical Model Era:** **e. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):**

- Focus on diagnosing and "treating" disabilities as - The Philippines, in line with international goals, has
medical conditions. been working towards inclusive education to ensure
quality education for all.
- Special schools and institutions were established to
segregate individuals with disabilities.

### 3) Legislations Supporting Inclusive Education:

**c. Social Model Era:**

- Shift towards recognizing disability as a social **a. Republic Act No. 10533 (Enhanced Basic Education
construct influenced by societal attitudes and barriers. Act of 2013):**
- Advocacy for social inclusion and equal opportunities - Introduces the K-12 program, which aims to address
gained momentum. the diverse learning needs of students.

- Encourages inclusive education practices within

mainstream schools.
**d. Inclusive Education Era:**

- Emphasis on integrating students with diverse needs

into mainstream educational settings. **b. Republic Act No. 10917 (Universal Access to
Quality Tertiary Education Act):**
- Recognition of the importance of accommodating
various learning styles and needs. - Aims to provide accessible and quality education at
the tertiary level, including provisions for students with
disabilities.
### 2) Key Developments in the Practice of Inclusive
Education in the Philippines:
**c. Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled
Persons):**
**a. Early Efforts:**
- Contains provisions that support the rights and
- The Philippines has a history of inclusive practices in welfare of persons with disabilities, including their right
indigenous cultures, where community members to education.
collectively took care of individuals with special needs.

- Early special education programs were established,

These legal frameworks reflect the Philippines'
but inclusive practices were not widespread.
commitment to inclusive education, aiming to provide
equitable opportunities for all learners, including those
with special needs. Ongoing efforts focus on improving
**b. Special Education Act of 1992:**
accessibility, accommodations, and support services to
- Enacted to address the needs of learners with create an inclusive educational environment.
disabilities.
**Historical Foundations**

Special education in the Philippines has a rich history. It

formally started during the American regime when Gen.
Superintendent of Education Mr. Fred Atkinson found a
census of deaf and blind school-aged children in
Manila⁸. Over the years, various programs and
initiatives were implemented to support inclusive
education[^10^].

**Philosophical Foundations**

Inclusive education is based on the philosophy of

equality, sharing, participation, and the worth and
dignity of individuals⁶. It values diversity and the unique
contributions each student brings to the classroom¹.

**Theoretical Foundations**

Special education is the practice of educating students

in a way that addresses their individual differences and
needs¹. Inclusive education means different and diverse
students learning side by side in the same classroom¹.

**Legal Foundations**

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines

is mandated to protect and promote the right of every
Filipino citizen to quality education¹¹. Various laws and
policies have been enacted to support inclusive
education, such as the creation of Special Education
(SPED) schools and the Alternative Learning System
(ALS)¹¹.

**Different Eras**

The development of special and inclusive education in

the Philippines can be traced back to the American
regime, followed by various initiatives in the
subsequent years⁸.

**Key Developments in the Practice of Inclusive

Education in the Philippines**

The Philippines has been working on implementing

various programs and initiatives to support inclusive
education. One such initiative is the “Inclusive
Education for All” program, which provides training and
support to teachers, parents, and school administrators
on how to best meet the needs of all students[^10^].

**Legislations Supporting Inclusive Education**

Republic Act (RA) 11650, also known as the "Instituting

a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with
Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act", was
signed into law in 2022. This law mandates all schools
nationwide to ensure inclusive education for learners
with disabilities²¹.