Page 10 MMA ACT 303 ARTICLE III EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT Sec. 11. Special Needs Education. A child with special education needs shall be educated in an inclusive environment with children who do not have such needs unless the nature or degree of those needs of the child is such that to do so would be in conflict with his/her best interests. For this purpose, the Regional Secretary of the DepED-ARMM may by regulation prescribe: a) The duration of basic education suitable to the needs of a pupil in receipt of Special Needs Education; b) The curriculum to be used with respect to special education; and c) Any other matter which the Regional Secretary deems expedient or necessary. Further, to effectively implement the purpose of this section, SPED Center in every School Division shall be established. Sec. 12. Tribal Communities Education Systems. The Regional Government shall provide equal access to various opportunities to the Tribal Communities such as scholarships, grants and other incentives without prejudice to their right to establish an additional curriculum in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. Children/youth belonging to tribal communities shall have the right to all levels and forms of education of the Autonomous Regional Government. In relation to this, the Regional Secretary of the DepED-ARMM shall ensure that newly hired teachers shall be deployed in their respective communities. Sec. 13. Education in Emergencies. The Autonomous Regional Government shall ensure that its programs in providing quality education will not be interrupted due to armed conflicts, natural disasters and pandemics. Thus, the Regional Secretary of DepEd-ARMM shall create a Disaster Risk Reduction Office, which shall formulate and implement an Emergency Education Preparedness and Response Plan in Areas of ARMM damaged or disrupted by armed conflicts, natural disasters and pandemics in accordance with the IRR to be formulated after the approval of this Act. Sec. 14. Health and Nutrition. The Autonomous Regional Government shall strengthen the existing Regional Health and Nutrition Unit and the Division Health and Nutrition Section by working with Department of Education Central office and the Department of Budget for the creation of required plantilla position, which shall be responsible for the school health and policy leadership program design and development, and for supervision, monitoring and evaluation.