Angara wants schools for special children

MANILA, Philippines - Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara called yesterday for the passage of a bill creating special education (SPED) centers for special children all over the country.

Angara, who chairs the House committee on higher and technical education, cited data from the Department of Education (DepEd), which showed that only two percent of Filipino children with special needs are getting government assistance.

He said in other countries, special children receive special attention from the state.

“Our special children, whether gifted or disabled, require special care and attention. In order for them to enjoy the benefits of education, modified schooling practices and services are necessary to cater to their specific and special needs,” he said.

The DepEd has reported that there are 5.4 million special children – those who are gifted or talented, mentally retarded, visually or hearing impaired, orthopedically or physically handicapped, learning disabled, speech defective, autistic, or with behavior problems.

That number is about 13 percent of the total child population in the country.

Of the 5.4 million special children, 4.22 million are with disabilities, while 1.27 million are gifted children.

The DepEd said 97 percent of children with disabilities aged seven years to 12 years old are not in school.

It said parents tend to keep their special children out of school because of the wrong belief that disabilities can cause embarrassment.

To give special children special attention, Angara is pushing for the enactment of the Special Education Act of 2012, of which he is an author.   

The bill requires the establishment of special education centers – at least one for each school division and three in big school divisions nationwide.