Parents appeal school decision to refuse enrollment of their child with ADHD

The parents of a grade three student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) sought the help of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) after a school allegedly refused the enrollment of their child.

"Hindi na nila tatanggapin dahil may condition ang bata... Sumasagot daw sa teacher, tapos madaldal, ikot ng ikot sa klase, tapos kapagka sinaktan daw lumalaban," the mother of the child related in Emil Sumangil's report on GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday.

The child, diagnosed to have ADHD when she was four years old, had been studying in a traditional school since first grade.

The school was aware of her condition and its decision not to accept her anymore offended her parents.

Experts said that persons with ADHD should not be discriminated and that the people around them should be understanding so that their behavioral concerns will be appropriately addressed.

"Ito'y isang kondisyon that's caused by chemical imbalance in a certain part of the brain. They have other problems like learning problems, they have mood problems, 'yung anger management issues," said Dr. Stella Manalo, founding board member of the ADHD Society of the Philippines.

The mother was emotional as she related that her daughter was treated differently, and her chair isolated from the rest of her classmates.

"Para kang pinagsinakluban ng langit at lupa. Kasi, kung para sa akin, okay lang e. Pero yung bata walang... hindi pa niya naiintindihan 'yon. Ang alam niya, ginagawa niya yung best niya," she said.

An official of the NCDA said the child diagnosed with ADHD does not deserve discrimination.

"In fact, you should embrace them, you should include them... And, that is what we are calling to all sectors of society," said NCDA's Rizalio Sanchez.

The JCSGO Christian Academy, in a statement, denied that it discriminated the student with ADHD.

"We did not discriminate any child. We did not violate the rights of the child. The school strongly demand(s) that the parents of the concerned child would come to school and confer with us."

The Department of Education (DepEd), for its part, said that schools should not reject enrollees.

"Under education for all, wala tayo dapat tinatanggihan ang bata na mag-aral, anuman ang kanyang maging kalagayan. Kailangan nating mabigyan ng pantay na karapatan ang lahat ng bata para makapag-aral," DepEd National Capital Region Director Willie Cabral said. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News