SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go batted for an education system that is inclusive and responsive.

The senator expressed support to a measure that guarantees and facilitates the rights of learners with disabilities to inclusive education.

Go urged the government to maintain its commitment to ensure that all learners, regardless of their abilities and disabilities, have the right to access quality education without discrimination.

“Education is a constitutionally enshrined right which the State must protect and promote. Thus, ensuring education for all should be a top priority. For this to be achieved, it is vital that opportunities to learn and receive quality education are accessible to all those who so desire,” he said.

Senate Bill 1907, also known as an Act Instituting Services and Programs for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education, aims to provide free support services as well as programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of differently-abled learners.

These programs and services will be delivered through Inclusive Learning Resource Centers which will be established in every municipality and city.

Satellite ILRCs may also be set up in schools while existing special education centers will be converted into ILRCs.

Each ILRC will be staffed with teachers with special training, teacher aides, licensed social workers and other allied professionals who are trained to interact with and instruct learners with disabilities.

To enhance the quality of education, the bill directs schools, child development centers and ILRCs to develop Individualized Education Plans to meet the unique educational needs of each learner.

The measure directs these centers to implement the Child Find System, a scheme for locating and evaluating learners with disabilities who have not received basic education services, and facilitating their inclusion into the general education system.