Press Release
March 13, 2008

SUBSIDY FOR GIFTED POOR KIDS PUSHED

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. urged the government, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd), to provide educational grants and other developmental programs to indigent but gifted and talented children in the country.

According to the senator, many gifted and talented Filipino children from poor families have been underrepresented in gifted education programs.

This, Revilla said, defies a provision in the Presidential Decree no. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code which states that the gifted child shall be given opportunity and encouragement to develop his special talents.

He said the government should invest in gifted children because they could greatly contribute to the national development as exceptional professionals.

"If the country is to compete successfully in the global economy, it is important that more students achieve higher levels of training, and that highly capable students receive an education that prepares them to perform the most highly innovative and creative work necessary in today's workplace," Revilla said.

The lawmaker filed Senate Bill 239 or the Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 2007 which is aimed to fund public school programs, classes, and other services designated to meet the needs of indigent but gifted and talented students in the elementary and secondary level.

"Gifted and talented students give evidence of high performance capability in specific academic fields, or in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, and require services or activities not ordinarily provided by a school in order to fully develop such capabilities," Revilla pointed out.

Under the bill, the DepEd shall provide grants to each DepEd Regional Office to be used by the public schools in developing or expanding gifted and talented education programs through one or more of the following activities: Professional Development Programs, Technical Assistance, and Innovative Programs and Activities.

This includes training program for specialists in gifted and talented education and distance-learning modules.

To be eligible to receive a grant award, each DepEd Regional Office shall submit an application to the DepEd secretary at such time and in such form and manner as the secretary may reasonably require.

The application shall include assurance that the funds received shall be used exclusively to support gifted and talented students in public schools, including students from all economic and ethnic backgrounds, gifted students with disabilities and highly gifted students.

"This would open the door of knowledge for our poor but gifted and talented children. We should not let their potential go to waste," Revilla added.

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