Republic Act No. 5250, enacted on June 15, 1968, establishes a ten-year training program for teachers of special and exceptional children in the Philippines, under the supervision of the Bureau of Public Schools and the University of the Philippines. The program is designed to educate teachers to work with various groups of exceptional children, including those with mental disabilities, physical impairments, and emotional disturbances. Funding will cover tuition, fees, and stipends for teacher trainees, with an emphasis on integrating special education into regular school settings. Scholarships will be provided annually for prospective teachers, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges of special education. The law mandates the establishment of pilot classes and research initiatives to identify children needing services, with an initial appropriation of 350,000 pesos from the National Treasury to support the program's implementation.
June 15, 1968
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5250
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TEN-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF SPECIAL AND EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. There is hereby established, under the administration and supervision of the Bureau of Public Schools, in cooperation with the University of the Philippines, a ten-year program for the training for teachers of special and exceptional children. cd i
SECTION 2. The term "special and exceptional children" shall include the mentally retarded, the crippled, the deaf and hard of hearing, the speech handicapped, the socially and emotionally disturbed and the gifted.
SECTION 3. The institutions of learning chosen by the Department of Education to carry out the training of teachers for this program shall grant the necessary credit.
SECTION 4. All expenses to be incurred therefor, such as tuition and other fees, and stipends of teacher trainees shall be charged against the funds of the program and shall be disbursed by the Director of Public Schools.
SECTION 5. The program shall as far as practicable, include the setting up of pilot classes for special and exceptional children in regular schools with the end in view of integrating said children into the regular school program and of encouraging socialization.
The program shall set up projects in such a way that special education shall be conducted within the facilities of regular schools whenever possible.
The program shall also set up research and survey projects to identify and locate exceptional children in need of its services.
SECTION 6. A number of scholarships shall be created every year for ten years for prospective teachers who shall undertake the training courses. The coordinator of the program shall see to it that scholarship grantees and teachers trainees under the program are intellectually and emotionally prepared to handle special education.
SECTION 7. The Secretary of Education shall issue such rules and regulations and shall employ such specialists, as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 8. The sum of three hundred fifty thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act for the fiscal year nineteen hundred and sixty-eight. Thereafter, such sums as are necessary for the operation of said training program shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 15, 1968
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 65, No. 21, p. 5260 on May 26, 1969