DepEd to further hone educators’ skills in handling children with special needs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to hold a national conference on special education (SPED) this November to further hone the skills of teachers and school administrators in handling children with special learning needs.

 Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the conference is open to all public and private school teachers and administrators and other SPED service providers.

 â€œWe are holding the conference in line with our policy to continue to create a culture of inclusive education,” Luistro said.

 He said the conference will be held in November in Iloilo with the theme “Special Education: A Bridge to Inclusion.”

 He said the forum aims to engage teachers and school administrators in the discussions of the evolving practices in handling SPED learners with the end-view of producing inclusive policies.

 Luistro said the conference will also be a venue to discuss current trends, skills and practices on the management of inclusive education schools.

 â€œWe can also expect presentations on researches on inclusive education which others may adopt or adapt,” the DepEd chief said.  

 One of the highlights of the event is the awarding of winners of the Search for the Most Outstanding Receiving Teachers, as well as Outstanding SPED Teachers and SPED Centers.

 Meanwhile, the DepEd said some 590 Grade 1 teachers from DepEd divisions nationwide are set to undergo training at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City to enhance their skills in teaching interactive Mathematics.

 The training seminar will be conducted by experts from the UP-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED).

 â€œOur goal here is to strengthen the capacity of teachers in learning and applying the contents of the interactive Grade 1 Mathematics courseware,” said Luistro.

 The agency has launched the Improving Technology-Enhanced Activities for Creative Honing of Mathematical Skills (iTEACH) program.

 iTEACH is a collaborative project of DepEd, the Department of Science and Technology- Science Education Institute, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and emerging Technology Research and Development and the UP-NISMED.