Diversity, Equity,

Inclusion
Initiatives in the
Philippines
Ricardo V. Villanueva
Discussant
Objectives
- Identify the different DEI
Initiatives of DepEd.

- State the challenges that hinders

the success of these initiatives.
Who are the Marginalized Sectors in
Education?
01
Figures and
Facts
 Students with Disabilities
• The recent study of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2022)
estimates that there are about 1.6 million Filipino children with disabilities. Based
on the Department of Education (DepEd) data for school year (SY) 2016-2017,
232,975 learners with disabilities or learning exceptionalities were mainstreamed
in regular classes.

• Children with disabilities are still combating educational exclusion.

 Street Children
• In a recent study, identifying the number of street children are
not easy to count to begin with. But their presence can be felt. In
every street you can see children that are deprived of their right
to education.
 Child Laborer
• Data from the PSA showed there were 1.37 million working children aged five to 17 years old
in 2021, higher than the 872,333 children of the same age range working in 2020. Of the 1.37
million working children in 2021, it said 62.8 percent or 858,000 were boys, while girls had a
37.2 percent share or 508,200.
• Majority of the children who were working belonged to the 15- to 17-year-old age group,
accounting for 63.8 percent of the total.
• By sector, the PSA said agriculture had the highest proportion of working children at 45.7
percent.
• This was followed by the services sector, which accounted for 45.4 percent of the total
working children, while the industry sector had the lowest share with nine percent.
• “Majority of the working children worked for 20 hours or less per week,” the PSA said.
• In particular, 55.9 percent of the total working children in 2021 worked 20 hours or less per
week, higher than the 53 percent who were engaged in the same hours of work in 2020.
 Abused Children and LGBT Children
• On a report in Inquirer.net, Government recorded at least 17,600 child
abuse cases in 2023, reveals Council for the Welfare of Children
Executive Director Angelo Tapeles. Most of the recorded cases were
violation on RA. 7610.
 Children of Indigenous People
• The number of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines is unknown, but it
is estimated that between 10% and 20% of the country's population
based on an article published by IWGIA or International Work Group
for Indigenous Affair.
"Real diversity and inclusion doesn't mean that
we will always agree. It means that even when
we disagree, we can still respect each other."
— Justin Jones-Fosu
Three important concepts for us
Diversity Equity
Diversity refers to who is Equity refers to fair treatment for
represented in the workforce all people, so that the norms,
practices, and policies in place
ensure identity is not predictive
of opportunities or workplace
outcomes.
Inclusion
Inclusion refers to how the
workforce experiences the
workplace and the degree to
which organizations embrace all
employees and enable them to
make meaningful contributions.
 EDUCATION POLICIES
• The right to education is a basic human right.
• All children and youth shall have access to quality
education.
• Inclusive education shall be concerned with all
learners, with focus on those who have traditionally
been excluded from educational opportunities.
• Support system shall be organized and delivered
holistically.
 PUBLIC POLICY SUPPORT on
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
• The 1987 Philippine Constitution
• P.D. 603 - The Child and Youth Welfare Code
• RA. 7610 – Special Protection of Children against Child
Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act
• R.A. 7277- The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons amended
by R.A 9442
• Policies and Guidelines in Special Education
 PHILIPPINES ADOPTS
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS on
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
 UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child (1989)
 World Declaration on Education for All (1990)
 UNESCO Salamanca Statement and Framework
for Action (1994)
 DEI Initiatives in the Philippine
Educational System
• DepEd being the Central Government Agency, created different policies
that address the issue of Inclusivity in Education.

• DepEd Order 72 s. 2009: Inclusive Education as Strategy for

Increasing Participation rate of Children

• DepEd Order 44 s. 2021: Policy Guidelines on the Provisions of

Educational Program and Services for Learners with Disabilities in the
K-12 Basic Education Program.

• DepEd Order 32 s. 2017: The Gender-Responsive Basic Education

Policy
 DEI Initiatives in the Philippine
Educational System
• DO 13, S. 2003 – INCLUSION OF THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN
SIX TO FOURTEEN (6-14) YEARS OF AGE IN THE NFE
ACCREDITATION AND EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM AMENDED BY DO
75, S. 2003 – CORRIGENDUM TO DEPED ORDER NO. 13, S. 2003
(INCLUSION OF THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN SIX TO
FOURTEEN (6-14) YEARS OF AGE IN THE NFE ACCREDITATION
AND EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM (NFE A&E))
•
 DEI Initiatives in the Philippine
Educational System
• DO 32, S. 2015 – ADOPTING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
EDUCATION CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

• DO 42, S. 2017- NATIONAL ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE PHILIPPINE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD FOR TEACHERS
 DEI Initiatives in the Philippine
Educational System
DO 42, S. 2017- NATIONAL ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PHILIPPINE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD FOR TEACHERS

Domain 3, Diversity of Learners, consists of five strands:

1. Learners’ gender, needs, strengths, interests and experiences
2. Learners’ linguistic, cultural, socio-economic and religious backgrounds
3. Learners with disabilities, giftedness and talents
4. Learners in difficult circumstances
5. Learners from indigenous groups
 The Philippines has been
making efforts to address issues
related to diversity, equity, and
inclusion (DEI) in education, but
there are ongoing challenges and
areas for improvement.
Implementation Challenges: While there
are policies supporting inclusive education,
implementation at the grassroots level faces
challenges. Limited resources, inadequate
teacher training, and infrastructure
constraints often hinder the full realization
of inclusive practices in schools.
Accessibility: Accessibility remains a
significant issue, particularly for
marginalized communities and learners in
remote areas. Physical barriers, such as
lack of wheelchair ramps and accessible
facilities, pose challenges for students with
disabilities.
Equity in Access: Disparities in access to education
persist, with marginalized groups, including
indigenous peoples, children from low-income
families, and those in conflict-affected areas, facing
barriers to quality education. Efforts to address these
disparities include programs such as the Alternative
Learning System (ALS) and the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps), which provide educational
support to disadvantaged learners.
Gender Equity: The Philippines has made
strides in promoting gender equity in
education, with initiatives aimed at
addressing gender-based violence in
schools and promoting girls' education.
However, gender disparities still exist,
particularly in certain regions and among
specific demographic groups.
Cultural Diversity: The Philippines is ethnically and
culturally diverse, with over 100 indigenous ethnic
groups. Efforts to promote cultural diversity and
inclusion in education include the integration of
indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSP)
into the curriculum and the recognition of Mother
Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) as
a strategy to enhance learning outcomes for
indigenous learners.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion: While there have
been some efforts to promote LGBTQ+
inclusion in education, such as anti-
discrimination policies and initiatives to
raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues,
challenges remain in terms of creating safe
and supportive environments for LGBTQ+
students.
In summary, the Philippines has taken steps to
promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in
education, but there are ongoing challenges in
implementation and ensuring equitable access
for all learners. Continued efforts are needed to
address these challenges and create inclusive
learning environments where every student can
thrive.
Thanks!
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