- Philippines became the first Asia-Pacific nation to join the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion on 8 April 2025.
- The partnership with DepED & Special Olympics Pilipinas will involve 50,000 students across 500 schools and train 2,000 teachers in inclusive education and Unified Sports.
- The signing ceremony, attended by DepED Secretary Sonny Angara & Akiko Thomson-Guevara, reinforces the country’s strong policies on inclusive education.
Philippines is the first Asia Pacific nation to formally join the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, which advances inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities through education and sport, through a signing ceremony today 8 April 2025. The collaboration between Special Olympics Pilipinas and the Department of Education (DepED) of the Philippines will work together to promote inclusive education by involving at least 50,000 students from the pre-school, elementary, junior high school and senior high school levels, through Unified Sports (where individuals with and without intellectual disabilities play sports together), in 500 schools.
Apart from this, at least 2,000 teachers will be trained to ensure inclusive practices are put into effective action in schools. The partnership is well aligned and reinforces the Philippines government's sustained effort to go further with inclusive education through numerous policies and programs.
For example, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 and the National Education (EFA) Plan supported the expansion of special education classes in the regular elementary and secondary schools, special education support and integration of learners with disabilities into current regular classes. The Philippine Republic Act No. 11650 also established the commitment towards ensuring inclusive education and that no individual with a disability is denied the right to have access to inclusive, equitable, and quality education.
Among the guests who were present at today's ceremony of signing in the Philippine School for the Deaf are DepED Secretary of Education Sonny Angara, Special Olympics Asia Pacific President & Managing Director Dipak Natali, and Special Olympics Pilipinas Chairperson and National President, Akiko Thomson-Guevara. Also present at the landmark ceremony were ambassadors, government officials, and special invited guests.
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Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated: "The Philippines is privileged to be the first in Asia Pacific to be part of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion. This partnership reaffirms our efforts towards inclusive education and sports, to ensure that all Filipino children, no matter their ability, can learn, grow, and flourish in a more equalized society".
Akiko Thomson-Guevarra explained that the MOU aims to leave no one behind. "The purpose of this is to provide them with the ability to attain physical fitness, show courage, feel joy and engage in a sharing of gifts, abilities and friendship with their families, fellow competitors and the community". She added they hope their efforts will open hearts and minds toward individuals with intellectual disabilities, integrating them into a global inclusive community.
Sports for a Changing World: Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, enabled by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, is a multi-partner platform working closely with governments, private sector and world philanthropy in an effort to spread the reach and effect of inclusive education through sports globally. These organizations are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Lions Clubs International Foundation, Fondation Botnar, and clothing company H&M.
With the inclusion of the Philippines in the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, the number of partner countries has increased to 21. The members of the Coalition cover a wide geographic location that encompasses Angola, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Malta, Mongolia, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates. Philippines is the inaugural nation to become a part of the Global Coalition, after Special Olympics made a pledge during the Global Disability Summit in Berlin this month to recruit 20 new member nations.
