Solons lament lack of experts for students with special needs

Dr. Bernadette Benitez, a developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert, said that there are only 96 development pediatricians nationwide.

“There are also child psychiatrists, there are neurologists who also can do assessments. Hindi lang naman [it’s not only] developmental pediatricians. But we recognize the fact that there are really still very few of us,” Benitez admitted.

Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr. also echoed that the country’s incapability to conduct assessments of children with special needs stems from the lack of qualified and competent professionals. 

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said that there is also a lack of teachers practicing special education (SPED). 

“Marami tayong unfilled positions, Mr. Chair. Sa SPED, baka pwede rin nating tignan ‘yun kasi meron na tayong budget na ma-review din ng DePed ang mga unfilled position, baka pwedeng lagyan lalo na doon sa mga eskwelahan na nagme-mainstream ng mga students with special needs,” Castro said. 

(There are a lot of unfilled positions for SPED in DepEd. I hope DepEd could fill in these positions, especially in mainstream schools that accommodate students with special needs.) 

In March 2022, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure requiring schools nationwide to provide free basic education and related services to learners with disabilities in support of inclusive education. 

Under Republic Act 11650 or “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion And Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act,” the Department of Education (DepEd) is mandated to establish and maintain at least one Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) in all cities and municipalities.

These ILRCs are mandated to implement the Child Find System which seeks to identify, locate, evaluate, and facilitate the inclusion of learners with disabilities of not more than 24 years old.

However, two years after the passage of the law, Romulo said that the Child Find System remains to be a challenge. 

“Ang gusto namin sa batas na ‘to simple. From birth, ma-track na through DILG ng ILRC lahat ng batang pinanganak, at periodical ‘yung pag-check, ‘yun nga ‘yung child find system na hindi naman nangyari sa iba, ma-monitor lang if there is any child who has special needs,” he said. 

(What we want in the law is simple. From birth, the ILRC will track through DILG all children who were born to determine if any of them has special needs.) 

“Bago pumasok, ‘yung special need niya ay masasagot naman ng local or national government, assuming kailangan ng pandinig or eyesight ang problema, mabigay ‘yun para makapasok siya sa regular, sa mainstream kaagad,” he added. 

(Their special needs, whether it is in their eyesight or hearing, should be addressed by the local or national government before they go to the regular or mainstream schools.) 

Romulo reminded DepEd that it could ask for help from other government agencies if they are having a hard time doing all the work. He also said that teachers should focus on teaching and not assessing children with special needs.

He said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should also give livelihood assistance to the families of learners with disabilities who could not be accommodated in mainstream schools. —LDF, GMA Integrated News