A project for inclusive education, particularly in schools, was launched last week by three alumni of the Young Southeast ASEAN Leaders Initiative of the US Embassy at the American Corner of the Silliman University Library in Dumaguete City.

The project on “Teachers as Advocates for Inclusive Education", that runs on a grant from the US Embassy, aims to stimulate awareness and further capacitate senior student teachers in dealing with children with disabilities and ultimately prepares schools to accommodate them in the classrooms and provide them the same learning experience.

A survey conducted by the project team showed that majority of the respondents of 164 students from six schools in Negros Oriental pointed out the challenge of handling the classroom of children with disabilities and with given needs that require special skills on the part of the teachers.

The survey said this adds to what the respondents cited as factors, such as society's lack of knowledge about persons with disabilities and their misconception about what they can do in society, which marginalize children with disabilities. The same respondents, however, reinforced their right to the same quality learning as other students.

The project team members Rolando Villamero Jr., Eduard Joseph Narciso, and Kate Young Ricardo were joined in the launch by fellow project team member Quy Nguyen from Vietnam. A panel discussion was one of the highlights of the launch.

The project leaders said the need to push for inclusive education is greater today, especially in the face of ASEAN 2015 economic community integration.*RG

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