Project PATAS (Project Advancing Teacher’s Attitude toward SPED): Advancing Inclusive Education in Magallanes

Abstract

Project PATAS (Project Advancing Teacher’s Attitude toward Special Education) represents a pioneering effort in the realm of inclusive education (IE) in Magallanes, Cavite, Philippines. The project was developed with the primary goal of enhancing the attitudes of regular teachers toward IE. Focusing on enabling educators to comprehend the essence of IE and equipping them with strategies tailored for Learners with Disabilities (LWD), PATAS set out to bridge the gap between mainstream education and the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. To gauge the effectiveness of PATAS, a comprehensive pre-test was administered to the participants. Following the completion of the PATAS training program, a post-test was conducted. The mean scores obtained from these tests demonstrated a significant improvement, indicating a notable enhancement in the participants' knowledge and understanding. The findings unequivocally revealed that PATAS played a pivotal role in enhancing the participants' learning experiences, enabling them to grasp the intricacies of IE comprehensively. Through this initiative, not only did the participants acquire a deeper understanding of IE, but their attitudes toward IE and their ability to effectively support and educate learners with disabilities were markedly transformed.