Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Speak out: Special education
Resielle Anne D. Madera & Theresa O. Pulvera Larmen de Guia Memorial College
What is special education (Sped)? Sped is individualized educational instruction designed to meet the unique educational and related needs of students with disabilities.
It is designed to suit students who need more attention and support from educational services. They include talented and gifted children with disabilities as well as those who have different sensory abilities, neuromuscular or physical characteristics, social or emotional behavior and communication abilities.
Why is there is a need for Sped? We need Sped to educate exceptional children. Despite their disabilities they are still human and have the right to education.
Sped will give exceptional children the courage to learn and think as if they are normal. Because of attempted abortion and overpopulation, the number of children who have disabilities nowadays have increased. This situation emphasizes the need for Sped to meet the individual and unique needs of every child with disabilities.
But how can we attain this when we don’t have enough institutions to accommodate qualified Sped teachers? It is alarming enough if we talk about the number of Sped teachers in our country.
Only a few colleges and universities offer Sped in our country. On the other hand, those who graduated from the few institutions that offer Sped courses, find jobs overseas where there is high demand for people with their capabilities.
Lack of support from the government aggravates the situation. So we really cannot blame Sped teachers who seek greener pastures overseas. How can exceptional children receive education and the attention they need, if we lack Sped teachers in our country?
The government should take a look at this situation. The government must think of ways to prevent Sped educators from going abroad.
