IT IS a strong belief that every person has the right to education. The Department of Education (DepEd) provides education opportunities for all through its educational program, which geared towards the specific needs of those who may be unable to attend classes in regular schools or to those with special talents or handicaps.

Preschool Program -- The Preschool program is not a part of the elementary education. Nonetheless, many parents realize the advantage of providing their children early educational experiences. The DepEd encourages public elementary schools to organize preschool classes for five-year-old children with the support of PTCA organizations.

Multigrade Classes -- It is not strange to see Grade 1 pupils sharing classroom with pupils of another level, say, Grade 4, especially in far barangays. In a multigrade class, there may be 30 to 40 pupils of two or more grade levels under the same class resulting in optimum utilization of available resources.

The multigrade system was instituted in 1993 in support of the DepEd thrust to improve equal access to elementary education. It operated in place where the holding of monograde classes is not feasible due to insufficient pupils and/or shortage of classrooms or teachers.

Non-Formal Education -- The DepEd Non-formal education (NFE) Program provides opportunities for the unschooled in far provinces to learn to read and write, as well as to make simple mathematical problems.

NFE teachers also expose them to such concepts as nationalism, civic consciousness and water conservation.

This was first implemented in 1995 financed from the Asian Development Bank. It aims to raise the literacy rate of the poor and unschooled, so that they can participate meaningfully in livelihood and community activities. It also seeks to expand access to basic education.

It is community-based tapping both local government units and non-government organizations (NGO's) in a constructive form of cooperation.

Distance Education -- Distance education is a method of educational delivery, which aims to break down barriers of time, distance and geographical location that traditionally have prevented potential learners from accessing educational services.

The learning approach is essentially self-instructional, with the students given more control over what, where, with whom and how they will learn. It utilizes a range of educational technologies to maximize learners' access and options to educational services.

These include a combination of low-technology media such as self-learning modules, and more interactive media such as audio, radio and video. An alternative Learning Resource Center (ALRC) serves as a venue for the selection, admission, and enrollment of clientele, and for tutorial lessons/ face-to-face sessions between instructional managers, subject area specialists, instructional facilitators and the clientele.

Special Education (Sped) -- Initiated by the Special Education Division of the Bureau of Elementary Education, the Sped program aims to provide basic quality education to special group of learners; the gifted and the disabled.

It aims to facilitate the integration of gifted and disabled children into the mainstream of the average and normal class of school children.

The program, therefore, identifies gifted learners and provides them with appropriate programs, such as acceleration, ability of groupings and other variations.

Teaching approaches emphasize creativity, intellectual initiative, critical thinking social responsibility and leadership skills. Special programs and facilities for the disables are also available.

For example, schools for visually impaired are required to have, among others, Braille slates and styluses, embossed maps and globes, and large print typewriters. Similarly, facilities are provided for pupils with hearing impairment, mental disability, and orthopedic handicaps.

School Along the Riles -- This is an educational scheme designed for street children, dropouts and out of school youths.

Its ultimate aim is to prevent minors from becoming drug addicts and committing petty crimes by making education accessible to them so that their lives may be improved.

The "School Along the Riles" project is the response of the DepEd to the "Sulong
Dunong, Kalusugan at Kabuhayan" as interagency comprehensive program for the street children.

The project is essentially aimed at bringing education to where the street children are. Conceptualized as an alternative scheme in reaching out to street children, the project allows flexibility in academic and administrative policies.

"Education is for everybody, no matter who is he, what he is and where he is."

Source: sunstar.com.ph