BAGUIO Special Education Center was hailed as the 2013 Outstanding SPED Center in a national conference held November 14 at Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo City.
Baguio City division superintendent Francis Cesar Bringas announced Monday the city SPED Center was again hailed among the top schools nationwide catering to special and gifted children in the country conferred yearly by the Department of Education.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan commended Bringas, Baguio SPED Center principal Niño Tibbangay and school teachers during Monday's flag raising program at City Hall for bringing honor to the city.
The Baguio SPED Center was also recognized as an Outstanding SPED Center in 2011.
DepEd also awarded Maria Theresa Rimando as the 2013 Outstanding SPED Teacher handling children with giftedness.
Also recognized as second place awardee in the2013 Outstanding SPED receiving teacher was Baguio SPED teacher Nancy Dumalili.
The awardees underwent screening and judging by a selection committee comprised of members of the National Association of Special Educators.
In a press statement, Education Secretary Armin Lusitro said Special Education teachers and SPED centers across the country deserve recognition for their untiring efforts in responding to the learning needs of children with learning disabilities or giftedness.
Luistro said special needs teachers play important roles in making the Aquino administrations' "Education For All" program a reality.
"Inclusive education means all learners including those who are differently-abled and we have the SPED teachers and centers nationwide to thank for their exemplary work," Luistro said.
Among the categories used to classify and appreciate the different efforts of SPED teachers and SPED centers are their handling of children with autism, hearing impairment, visual impairment, intellectual disability, learning disability and children with intellectual giftedness.