Gerald B.

Andaya

HISTORY OF SPED

SPED or Special Education / Special Needs Education is the practice of educating

students with special needs in a way that manages their individual differences and needs.
This process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement
of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings.
SPED in the Philippines started in 1908 where the school in Harrison, Pasay City
for deaf was established and marked the official government recognition of obligations
towards the education of the handicapped children.
In 1952, a pilot school for the SPED of mentally handicapped children was started
at the Philippine Women’s University. All children from this school were transferred to the
Special Child Study Center in Cubao, Q.C. in 1957.
For the record, Philippine Normal College offered courses in SPED for teaching
the blind in 1964 wherein 14 elementary teachers were selected for training. Its inspiration
was the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind in the Philippines where they established
training course for teachers and putting up of the Philippine National School for the Blind.
The ultimate goal of special education shall be integration of mainstreaming of
learners with special needs into the regular school system and eventually in the community.
And to be able to meet the individual educational needs of the learners and, to extent
possible, prepare them for going to a more regular classroom setting.
SPED learners receive instructions from SPED teachers, occupational therapist,
physical therapist and/or speech pathologist.
The primary function of a SPED Teacher is to meet the goals and objectives
established in the IEP of Regular Teacher and to teach, of course, what’s in the curriculum.
And the type of classroom for SPED learners can be a self-contained room, resource room,
mainstream classroom, and/or a regular classroom.
 LEGAL BASES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Republic Act No. 3562, “An Act To Promote the Education of the Blind in the Philippines” on June
21, 1963 provided for the formal training of special education teachers of blind children at the
Philippine Normal College, the rehabilitation of the Philippine Normal School for the Blind
(PNSB) and the establishment of the Philippine Printing House of Blind.

Republic Act No. 5250, “An Act Establishing a Ten-Year Teaching Training Program for Teachers
of Special Education Children” was signed into law in 1968. The law provided for the formal
training of teachers for deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech handicapped, socially and emotionally
disturbed, mentally retarded and mentally gifted children and youth at the Philippine Normal
College and the University of the Philippines.

The 1973 Constitution of the Philippines, the fundamental law of the land, explicitly stated in
Section 8, Article XV the provision of “a complete, adequate and integrated system of education
relevant to the goals of national development.” The constitutional provision for the universality of
educational opportunities and the education of every citizen as a primary concern of the government
clearly implies the inclusion of exceptional children and youth.

In 1975, Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code was
enacted. Article 3 on the Rights of the Child provides among others that “the emotionally disturbed
or socially maladjusted child shall be treated with sympathy and understanding, and shall be entitled
to treatment and competent care; and the physically or mentally handicapped child shall be given
the education and care required by his particular condition.” Equally important is Article 74 which
provides for the creation of special classes. Thus, “where needs warrant, there shall be at least
special classes in every province, and if possible, special schools for the physically handicapped,
the mentally retarded, the emotionally disturbed and the specially gifted. The private sector shall
be given all the necessary inducement and encouragement.”

In 1978, Presidential Decree No. 1509 created the National Commission Concerning Disabled
Persons (NCCDP). It was renamed as National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
(NCWDP).