'Special education’ integration in academic curriculum pushed

By Rachelle M. Nessia

Friday 6th of July 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 6 (PIA) -- Special education must be incorporated into the general education curriculum.

This was the statement of an official form the Department of Education (DepEd) in Dumaguete City during a forum here on the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Judith Mapue, special education supervisor, said integrating special education in the curriculum of colleges and universities will help sustain the program on inclusion of PWDs. This will also allow education majors to gain knowledge and skills in dealing with students with special needs.

Among the subjects that could be featured in the curriculum are sign language, Braille reading, and psychology in dealing with PWDs.

DepEd has mandated the implementation of “Inclusive Education System” which pushes for inclusion of PWDs in the same class with students without disabilities.

Mapue spoke in a forum organized by the Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (GPRehab) in partnership with the American Studies Resource Center of the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library.

During the forum, University of Texas special education professor Dr. James Patton noted the growing number of PWDs who are now admitted into country’s education system.

However, GPRehab Executive Director Analou Suan described the inclusive education in the country as “still in its infancy stage.”

She attributed this to the lack of trained teachers who can adjust to the needs of PWDs in the classroom.

In Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental, there are close to 500 special students enrolled in public elementary schools. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Mark Raygan Garcia)