The Child Find System (CFS), outlined in the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 11650, also referred to as the Inclusive Education Act, establishes a comprehensive framework for the inclusion of learners with disabilities (LWDs) within the educational system of the nation.
According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, RA 11650 defines the CFS as a systematic approach to the identification, location, and evaluation of all learners with disabilities who are not currently receiving basic education services. This system aims to identify individuals who are 24 years of age or younger to facilitate their integration into the general basic education system.
During a public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Basic Education to assess the progress of RA 11650’s implementation, Senator Gatchalian presented data indicating that the Department of Education (DepEd) recorded 351,147 enrollments of LWDs for the school year 2019-2020; however, this number has declined to 323,344 for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Undoubtedly, the pandemic adversely affected many students, including those with disabilities who were unable to attend school. However, I have observed a gradual increase in the enrollments of learners with disabilities, taking nearly four years to approach pre-pandemic levels,” stated Gatchalian.
Additionally, Gatchalian referenced estimates from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which indicate that there are approximately 1.595 million Filipino learners aged 2 to 17 years who have disabilities, suggesting that the current enrollment figures represent only about 20 percent of this population.
“This underscores the necessity of the Child Find System, which is specifically designed to enhance the enrollment of children with disabilities. Our objective is not only to identify these learners but also to motivate their parents to facilitate their school attendance,” Gatchalian emphasized.
He further urged the Department of Health (DOH), the National Disability Commission, and the DepEd to consider implementing a house-to-house survey when convening the Inter-agency Council. “The Child Find System is fundamentally designed to achieve this objective,” he added.
Senator Gatchalian also called upon the DepEd to publish the implementing rules and regulations pertinent to the law to ensure its full execution.
RA 11650 mandates that all learners with disabilities, regardless of their enrollment in public or private institutions, shall receive services and reasonable accommodations in accordance with their Individualized Education Plans and possess the right to access appropriate support and related services.
