Country: Philippines                          
Title:    Increasing Participation in Programs for the Gifted and
          Talented
Author:            Jaime C. . Laya, Minister, MECS.  
Institution:       MECS
Citations:         MECS Memo. No. 135, s. 1984.  
Descriptors:       Exceptional child education; Grouping
                   (Instructional purposes).  
Full text: 1.  In the continuing quest for equity and excellence in
  education starting in the elementary level, the participation of
  more pupils in programs for gifted and talented children cannot be
  over-emphasized.  Failure to provide accessible routes to the
  expanding horizons of these pupils denies them educational equity
  as individuals and results in a wastage of priceless human
  resource.  Without adequate tool of learning, they, too, will
  become disadvantaged.

  2.  Findings show that gifted/talented students grouped for
  instruction generally have greater achievement than similar
  students who remain in heterogenous groups.  Studies also report
  that teacher have greater opportunities to proceed at an
  appropriate pace for the fast learners when they are grouped. 
  While even the most rigid grouping will not eliminate individual
  differences in a classroom, the average learning pace of an
  all-gifted class can certainly be faster than the average learning
  pace of a random group.  This can narrow the range of differences
  for the teacher who is concerned with differences, and even promote
  a more appropriate learning pace for gifted students when the
  teacher instructs to the class average.

  3.  In view thereof, all public and private schools are hereby
  urged to organized special classes for the gifted and talented
  pupils if they have none, and expand and improve their existing
  programs.  Inclosed are guidelines designed to assists schools
  administrators in the organization of special classes.

  4.  It is requested that a report on enrolment and of the
  organization of classes, for exeptional children be submitted at
  the BEE, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Intramuros,
  Manila not later than August of each school year.