Legal Bases of Inclusive Education in the Philippines

Representatives of 92 governments and 25 international organizations formed the World Conference on Special Needs Education, held in Spain. They agreed a dynamic new Statement on the education of all disabled children, which called for inclusion to be the norm. In addition, the Conference adopted a new Framework for Action, the guiding principle of which is that ordinary schools should accommodate all children, regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic or other conditions. All educational policies, says the Framework, should stipulate that disabled children attend the neighborhood school 'that would be attended if the child did not have a disability'.

• PD 603 of 1995

• 1944 Salamanca Statement

• Educ. Act of 1982 (RA 232)

Also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013,it has expanded the years of schooling in basic education from 10 years to 12 years. The aforesaid reformation of curriculum has been introduced in the basic education system through senior high school.

• RA 10157

• RA 10665

• RA 10533

This defines the child as every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child.

• 1989 Convention of Rights of the Child

• DECS Order No. 26 5 .1977

• Pres.Proc.361 of 2000

Also known as the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, it provides the overall framework for principal empowerment by strengthening principal and leadership goals, and local school based management within the context of transparency and local accountability.

• RA 5250

• RA 7610

• RA 9155

Entitled as Institutionalization of SPED Programs in all Schools, it institutionalizes the provision of equal educational opportunities to children with disabilities through special needs education.

• DECS Order 26, s. 1997

• PD 1509

• RA 6759

All public and private welfare agencies are hereby enjoined to participate and cooperate actively in propagating the plight of the PWDs. Any financial contributions and/or fund-raising shall be tax-exempt, (which shall include the sweepstakes draw, among others).

• Pres.Proc.361 of 2000

• PD 603 of 1995

• Educ Act of 2001

An act to promote the education of the blind in the Philippines

• RA 3562

• RA 9288

• RA 344

Also known as the Kindergarten Education Act, makes kindergarten “the first stage of compulsory and mandatory formal education.” DepEd views the institutionalization of kindergarten as a key move in implementing the administration's flagship K-12 (Kindergarten to 12) program, which extends the basic education from 10 to 12 years.

• RA 10665

• RA 10533

• Republic Act No. 10157

Otherwise known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code and issued in December 1974, legally defines special categories of youths, including youthful offenders, and directs the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) to provide comprehensive services to assist in youth development.

• Educ. Act of 1982

• Presidential Decree No. 603

• Educ. Act of 2001

This act states that it shall be the goal of basic education to provide learners with the skills, knowledge and values they need to become caring, self- reliant, productive and patriotic citizens. The school shall be the heart of the formal education system.

• 1944 Salamanca Statement

• Education Act of 2001

• Education Act of 1982