SAVE the Children is prodding Congress for the immediate approval of the bicameral committee version of the Inclusive Education (IE) Bill for Learners with Disabilities.
“We must also consider the welfare of 5.5 million learners with disabilities who have limited access to quality and inclusive education even before the pandemic,” said Atty. Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children-Philippines, as the new school year started last Monday.
“The early enactment of the IE Bill will provide [disabled] children…with equal access and opportunities to quality education, thereby making the educational system of our country more inclusive,” Muyot added.
The IE Bill, which is advocated by Save the Children-Philippines and partners, was approved on third reading in the House of Representatives in December 2020, and in the Senate in May 2021.
The organization raised concerns on the disruption of education among marginalized children and learners in the country who were most impacted by the pandemic. “Lack of support, [as well as] access to the Internet, accessible software and learning materials” are just some of the many factors that “deepen the gap for students with disabilities,” according to the policy brief: “A Disability-Inclusive Response to Covid-19” by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Children with disabilities face “major concerns” accessing education (51.8 percent), child-development services (50.7 percent), habilitation and rehabilitation services (48.5 percent), and general health services (42.8 percent), according to the “Situation of Children with Disabilities in the Context of Covid-19” online survey in 2020 by the Council for the Welfare of Children-Subcommittee on Children with Disabilities. It said that 14.1 percent of the respondents also cited a “decline in mental health and well-being of children” as a result of their inability to access psychosocial and related services.
Sierra Paraan, basic education advisor of Save the Children-Philippines, believes the IE Bill is crucial in supporting marginalized children during the pandemic, and improving education for all: “[It ensures] that…rights of children with disabilities to quality inclusive education are upheld as they, and their families, are among the most impacted by discrimination and inequality during this pandemic.”
Said bill seeks to provide learners with disabilities access to public and private schools, as well as support services and capacity-building to students, their families or caregivers, and teachers—including the establishment of Inclusive Learning Resource Centers that will serve as knowledge hubs.
Among many of the IE Bill’s other provisions—an advisory council for education of learners with disabilities—will be made to support the Department of Education’s further development of the country’s learning system, and provision of a support system for parents, so that they may provide care for their children at home.
Disabled learners who have not had early childhood and basic education services will also receive support through the “Child Find System,” which will identify and facilitate their inclusion in learning programs.
“This is why Save the Children urges everyone to support the bill,” Paraan stated. “With accessible, inclusive, appropriate education and services through the IE Bill, no student will be left behind.”