ILOILO – Iloilo province has emerged as the country’s most underserved schools division in special needs education (SNED) at the junior high school level, with only one filled special education teaching position for every 902 learners, prompting calls for urgent hiring reforms and a more equitable deployment of specialized teachers.
An analysis released by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) on October 19 revealed that Iloilo recorded the highest SNED teacher-to-learner ratio nationwide, highlighting a severe imbalance in the availability of specialized educators for learners with disabilities.
The province’s 1:902 ratio was nearly twice that of Camarines Sur, which ranked second at 1:453, followed by Pangasinan I, Lingayen at 1:355; Zamboanga del Sur, 1:290; Biñan City, 1:215; Davao de Oro, 1:210; General Trias City, 1:181; Cabuyao City, 1:177; Antique, 1:172; and Zambales, 1:167.
EDCOM 2 clarified that the figures represent division-wide ratios based on filled special education teaching positions, not actual classroom sizes or individual teacher workloads. The computation also excludes vacant teaching positions.
The findings have raised concerns over the government’s capacity to deliver inclusive education, particularly in large schools divisions where the number of learners requiring specialized instruction far exceeds the available teaching workforce.
Nationwide shortage
The problem extends beyond Iloilo.
EDCOM 2 found that 717 of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) 6,613 authorized SNED teaching positions nationwide remained vacant as of February 11, 2026, representing 10.8 percent of the total plantilla.
The National Capital Region recorded the highest number of vacancies at 216, followed by Central Luzon with 109 and Calabarzon with 74.
The commission also reported that of the 204,964 formally diagnosed learners with disabilities enrolled in public and private schools nationwide, 77,217 or 37.7 percent were diagnosed with autism.
Another 37,019 learners or 18.1 percent had intellectual disabilities, while 22,131 or 10.8 percent had learning disabilities.
EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee called for an immediate reassessment of the allocation of SNED teaching positions and faster recruitment of qualified educators.
“The data highlights the urgent need to review the distribution of SNED plantilla positions, to fast-track hiring of SNED teachers, and the urgency for DepEd and DBM to establish a more responsive system of allocating SNED teachers,” Yee said.
“Clearly having ratios of 1:900 and 1:500 is unintended, and also untenable, if we truly want to provide inclusive education to our students. We hope that DepEd can look into this matter as it implements Republic Act 11650 (The Inclusive Education Act).”
Iloilo cites massive student population
Reacting to the findings, Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias attributed the province’s exceptionally high ratio partly to the enormous student population covered by the Schools Division of Iloilo, which he described as the largest in the country.
Banias said the province’s extensive educational coverage naturally translates into a greater demand for teachers, including those specializing in learners with disabilities.
“I think you have to look at the denominator, ang Division of Iloilo is the biggest division in the country. So, meaning ang learners ta very high, tama kadamo sang learners naton from Grade 1 to Senior High Schools. That’s why it’s understandable nga number one kita sa may need for SNED,” Banias said.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged the need for the provincial government to examine the shortage through the Iloilo Provincial School Board and Provincial Education Management Office.
Under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the provincial government has been pursuing initiatives to improve educational outcomes, particularly reading comprehension and proficiency in mathematics and science.
Banias said special needs education must also receive attention because teaching learners with disabilities requires specialized academic preparation and professional qualifications.
He pointed out that only selected universities in Western Visayas offer specialized education programs, potentially limiting the pool of qualified applicants.
Hiring practices under scrutiny
Banias also raised concerns over existing teacher recruitment practices, noting that teaching vacancies advertised by DepEd or local school boards do not always specify qualifications in special needs education.
As a result, applicants without the necessary specialization may eventually be assigned to teach learners with disabilities.
“I think that it should be looked into. Sa hiring sang DepEd, wala na ya ginabutang nga ang requirement nanda is special needs, so everybody applies and sometimes ang ginabaton to handle specials students wala naga-fit,” Banias said.
He emphasized that the mismatch between teachers’ academic qualifications and their assigned responsibilities deserves attention as authorities work to strengthen inclusive education.
However, Banias acknowledged that DepEd is simultaneously confronting other major challenges, including a shortage of approximately 1,700 classrooms in Iloilo province.
He said the provincial government has been gradually addressing the classroom shortage under Defensor’s administration.
Hiring reforms eyed
To help narrow Iloilo’s SNED teacher gap, Banias said the provincial government could consider directing the Schools Division of Iloilo to prioritize the recruitment of qualified special education teachers.
He suggested that teaching vacancies could carry explicit specialization requirements to ensure that applicants possess the academic preparation necessary to handle learners with disabilities.
“If it is real need, then we can also give instruction to the Division Office that ang i- hire naton should have special educaiton nga mga teacher to narrow the gap sang high ratio. But, again I would like also to explain that the denominator of Iloilo is very big,” Banias said.
The proposed intervention remains subject to further assessment of EDCOM 2’s findings./PN
