Save the Children Philippines (SCP) and state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies are set to hold a research forum on inclusive education on December 3 at the B Hotel in Quezon City.

Representatives from the government, academe, and civil society have been invited to speak and present their respective studies on persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and out-of-school children and youth. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will deliver the keynote speech.

For research studies on disability, presenters include PIDS President Celia Reyes, SCP Basic Education Technical Adviser Sierra Mae Paraan, and Norfil Foundation Consultant Rosalyn Marie Sorongon. This session has four reactors from the government and academe, namely, Department (DepEd) of Education Director for Bureau of Learning Delivery Dr. Leila Areola, National Council on Disability Affairs Officer-in-Charge Mateo Lee, Jr., Alternative Learning Resource – Philippines Executive Director Dr. Genevieve Rivadelo-Caballa, and University of Santo Tomas Assistant Professor Karen Sagun Ongtangco.

For the session on indigenous peoples, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Bank Officer Christian Mina together with PIDS President Celia Reyes will present their study, as well as Carol Saribay from the Indigenous Peoples Education, and Helen Abarra, a teacher from the Paaralang Bayan ng mga Ayta ng Zambales. Meanwhile, reactors for this session include May Cinco from E-Net Philippines and DepEd Director Dr. Areola.

Finally, for the session on out-of-school children and youth, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Jose Ramon Albert, University of the Philippines-Diliman Professor Maria Mercedes Arzadon, and Ivy Funtalba from SCP will present their respective studies. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, executive director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Council for the Welfare of Children, DepEd Director Dr. Areola, and Dolora Cardenio, executive director of the Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation will serve as reactors for this session.

According to SCP Chief Executive Officer Alberto Muyot and PIDS President Celia Reyes, the forum is a way to inform relevant government agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and legislators about the results of research studies on inclusive education. “We hope that through our research studies, we will be able to assist our policymakers in refining existing programs and crafting other interventions to advance inclusive education in the country,” Reyes said. 

A one-day mini-exhibit featuring the knowledge products of the speakers’ respective offices will run alongside the forum.

This event is also conducted in support of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. ###


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